Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks (2010), Hardcover, 288 pages
Description
Teenager Aman and his mother lose their loyal spaniel Shadow while escaping Afghanistan to flee to England. Now they must depend on a friend and his grandfather to enable Shadow's return.
User reviews
LibraryThing member brangwinn
Morpurgo has created story that shows the plight of many Afghan citizens who fled their homeland as political refuges. Aman tells the story of his life as he and his mother await deportation back to Afghanistan. Sitting in a deportation prison he recounts how a dog he befriended was a bomb sniffing
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dog for the British Army. Befriended by the British troops, he and his mother were able to get to Britain, and with the help of the British captain they get to stay in England. Yes, the story ends with a happy note, but to think what Aman and his mother would face in his homeland is not the way I want a story to end. I enjoyed the suspense and how ordinary British citizens helped Aman stay. Perfect reading for dog lovers who want a bit of contemporary history as well. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sullywriter
Another wonderful story from one of my favorite children's authors. Morpurgo tells the touching story of an Afghan refugee boy named Aman and a loyal, heroic sniffer dog named Shadow. A moving story of friendship and survival.
LibraryThing member dmiller70
Great story about a part of the world that is not very familiar to many people - Afghanistan. It is an uplifting tale.
LibraryThing member RyanM.b3
Shadow is a book about a poor family in Afghanistan that live in a cave. The people that live in that cave are a boy called Aman his mother and grandmother. One night will Amans mother and grandmother were asleep Aman sat by the fire and then all of a sudden a dog was standing outside the cave, but
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in Afghanistan dogs were wild animals and dirty so nobody wanted them to be around. Aman threw a rock at it to go away but stood in the same place. The next day the dog came back to the cave. When Aman went to go get water it followed him but when all the other buys saw him with a dog they started throwing rocks at the dog. But it still came back the next night when his mother and grandmother were in bed. Aman still had some bread left so he gave it to the dog. Threw out the story the dog becomes a close companion acting like a shadow that's why he called the dog shadow. His grandmother died which brought great sadness to Aman and his mother although they found under her mattress a big pile of Jules and jewellery. With this they decided to move to England . They had to take a lorry cause they had no other transportation so they hitchhiked all the way to Turkey and then by sea to finally reach England. Aman and his mother lived with Amans uncle. Aman made a lot of new friends. His best friend is Matt. Although the happeines didn't last forever Aman and his mother went to jail because they are illegal immigrants. Matt and his grandfather were outraged and started a protest. The police came and asked what was going on they explained what has happened trying to pursued them to let them go. I took a lot of persuading but with that they let them go letting the To live a free life Show Less
LibraryThing member DebbieMcCauley
Told through the eyes of Matt, his grandfather, and Aman, his best friend. After six years living in England, Aman and his mother are locked up in Yarl's Wood, an immigration removal centre in Bedfordshire. His best friend Matt talks his grandfather, an ex journalist, into going and visiting Aman
Aman grew up in a cave in Bamiyan, in war torn Afghanistan. His family are Hazara. His grandfather was killed fighting against the Russian invasion with the Mujahadin resistance fighters. For a while there was peace until the Taliban arrived and destroyed their crops, homes and friends - even the great stone statues of the Buddha dating from the 6th century were dynamited and destroyed in March 2001. Aman's father spoke a little English and so helped interpret for the Americans when they arrived. Later the Taliban took him away and he was never seen again.
One day a bedraggled Springer Spaniel appears at the mouth of Aman's cave. He feeds him, bathes his wounds, names him Shadow, and the two became close. The Taliban jail, beat and torture Aman's mother, and later beat and kill his grandmother. After that Aman and his mother, along with Shadow, start a long and horrific journey to reach her brother in England. Along with way Shadow finds a bomb on the road and Aman saves the life of some British soldiers and becomes a hero. In this way, Shadow is reunited with his original owners and Aman must leave him behind.
After registering as asylum seekers they start a new life and Aman and Matt become best friends. Six years later, Aman and his mother are suddenly told they are to be deported back to Afghanistan and are locked up in the removal centre.
What can Matt and his grandfather do?
This is a compelling story of hope and despair. It is well worth a read and moved me to tears. The postscript includes information about the war in Afghanistan, Yarl's Wood and army sniffer dogs. Highly recommended.
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and listening to his story. Aman's mother has had a dream that the grandfather will help them and so Aman pours out his story. Aman grew up in a cave in Bamiyan, in war torn Afghanistan. His family are Hazara. His grandfather was killed fighting against the Russian invasion with the Mujahadin resistance fighters. For a while there was peace until the Taliban arrived and destroyed their crops, homes and friends - even the great stone statues of the Buddha dating from the 6th century were dynamited and destroyed in March 2001. Aman's father spoke a little English and so helped interpret for the Americans when they arrived. Later the Taliban took him away and he was never seen again.
One day a bedraggled Springer Spaniel appears at the mouth of Aman's cave. He feeds him, bathes his wounds, names him Shadow, and the two became close. The Taliban jail, beat and torture Aman's mother, and later beat and kill his grandmother. After that Aman and his mother, along with Shadow, start a long and horrific journey to reach her brother in England. Along with way Shadow finds a bomb on the road and Aman saves the life of some British soldiers and becomes a hero. In this way, Shadow is reunited with his original owners and Aman must leave him behind.
After registering as asylum seekers they start a new life and Aman and Matt become best friends. Six years later, Aman and his mother are suddenly told they are to be deported back to Afghanistan and are locked up in the removal centre.
What can Matt and his grandfather do?
This is a compelling story of hope and despair. It is well worth a read and moved me to tears. The postscript includes information about the war in Afghanistan, Yarl's Wood and army sniffer dogs. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member Taranto
This is the first book by Michael Morpurgo that I have read, but it will not be the last. Upon researching him further, I have found out that he has written many animal stories in both historical and realistic fiction. Many of the fourth graders in my class like the books "Dog Tags" and other
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animals stories about war and animal heroes. The next unit we will be covering is historical fiction in my fourth grade class, and I am thinking about using the "An Elephant in My Garden" so that I, along with my students, can read more from this gifted author. The descriptions and the way Morpurgo "shows not tell" in Shadow are perfect for my students and their work in inferencing. There are also many characters perspectives and motives; it is right up the ally of my students entering the R.S, T Band of texts. Plus, it shows the harsh realities and injustices in other parts of the world. I might even be able to use "War Horse" as I have some students who are far exceeding the fourth grade reading benchmark at a level X. War Horse is a level Z, but could be a possibility if used in a guided reading environment. I feel like I've found a treasure in this author and look forward to exploring more of his pieces. Show Less
LibraryThing member lolhscybrarian
A wonderfully told story, through various lenses, of the struggle of a boy and his mother to achieve political asylum and the "stray" dog that became their saving grace. I really appreciated the notes at the end of this novel that provided facts and historical context. And although a sub-storyline,
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the relationship and camaraderie between Matt and his grandfather intrigued me and warmed my heart. I loved how the author used different lenses/voices to tell this story. By reading this novel in the classroom ELA and Social studies teachers could create an interdisciplinary unit and/or research activities to delve deeper into this topic. Show Less
LibraryThing member EmKel753
In this book, a young boy named, Aman is trying to escape his home in Afghanistan to seek safety with family in England. Before fleeing his home he meets a loyal spaniel named Shadow. The dog leads Aman and his mother through the deserts of Afghanistan and eventually to a English army base.
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Eventually Aman and his mother make it to England, but Aman still longs to see Shadow again. Show Less
LibraryThing member HeatherLINC
Once again Michael Morpurgo has written a thought-provoking book about a current issue with another animal playing a starring role in the story. This time it is a springer spaniel who helps an Afghani boy and his mother escape from the Taliban. Told by Aman, who is now in a detention centre with is
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mother waiting to be deported back to Afghanistan, Aman tells his story of survival and how a foreign army dog helped save their lives. Supported by some beautiful pencil sketches by Christian Birmingham, this book is written for younger readers giving them an insight into the plight of asylum seekers and the reasons they seek refugee status. Show Less
LibraryThing member jennybeast
Short book that packs a significant emotional punch. Does a great job talking about the situation in Afghanistan and the horrific conditions many immigrants face. I also really loved the power of civic action and protest. That said, at the end of the book the majority of the detainees are still
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detained. The magic only worked for this one family. I can't decide if that's deeply unsatisfying or genius. Show Less
Awards
Nutmeg Book Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2015)
USBBY Outstanding International Book (Grades 3-5 — 2013)
The Children's Book Award (Winner — Younger Readers — 2011)
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nominee — 2012)
Virginia Readers' Choice (Nominee — Middle School — 2016)
South Asia Book Award (Highly Commended — 2013)
CCBC Choices (2013)
Children's Favorites Awards (Selection — 2013)
Language
Physical description
288 p.
ISBN
0007339593 / 9780007339594
Local notes
The story of Aman, as told in his own words – a boy from Afghanistan fleeing the horror of the Afghan war. When a western dog shows up outside the caves where Aman lives with his mother, Aman is initially repulsed – it is not customary for people to keep dogs as pets in his part of the world. But when Aman and his mother finally decide to make a bid for freedom, the dog Aman has called Shadow will not leave their side.