Out of Shadows

by Jason Wallace

Twelve-year-old Robert Jacklin comes face-to-face with bigotry, racism, and brutality when he is uprooted from England and moves to Zimbabwe with his family. Robert is enrolled in one of the country's most elite boys' boarding schools. Newly integrated, the school is a microcosm of the horrible problems faced by the struggling new country in the wake of a bloody civil war. The white boys want their old country back and torment the black Africans. Robert must make careful alliances. His decision to join the ranks of the more powerful white boys has a devastating effect on his conscience and emerging manhood.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Africa, Fiction, Historical, War, Zimbabwe

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2010

About the author

Jason Wallace is related to Tolkien and a descendant of one of the first International English cricketers, and also of the world-renowned Victorian circus owner 'Lord' George Sanger. He was born in Cheltenham in 1969 but moved to London after his parents split up. Aged 12 his life was turned upside down when his mother remarried and the family emigrated to Zimbabwe. It was this experience in a tough boarding school during the aftermath of the war for independence that forms the foundation of his incredible first novel, Out of Shadows. And he did actually meet Robert Mugabe when he visited his school.

Jason is currently a web designer, living in South West London with his partner and son.

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

“I nodded subserviently while inside I was chewing over his words: tipped the balance of power. It seemed a strange expression to me because it gave me an image of a seesaw, and when one end was up the other was always down. It was never actually balanced.”

Initial Final Page Thoughts.
What… wait.. was that…? No.. it couldn’t be. Could that be an epilogue that didn’t make me superfluously angry?! I believe it was. Gosh.
And also… sadness.

High Points.
Let’s hear it for the boys. History. Unflinching. Raw. Nelson. Snakes in the grass. Honesty. Brothers. Thought-provoking. Difficult questions. The writing.

Low Points.
Oh won’t somebody think of the children parents? Seriously… I know in YA Land parents are normally dead/divorced/ awol for unexplained reason and I’ve come to accept that. But this was ridiculous. These boys were just running around like the lost boys at the end!
And speaking of the ending, it was.. um.. interesting but a little unconvincing and about as subtle as a ton of bricks.
Also, I wish we had spent more time in 1985. It was nice to see Robert starting off in the boarding school but I think it went on for a bit too long and, I know Mr Wallace had to set the scene because some people (like moi) may not know about this era at all, but I would like to have had more time looking at Robert when he was older because I think his character really started to develop and, of course, break my heart and make me scowl and sigh in exasperation and write ‘ROBERT NOOOO! Come on!’ and ‘Robert don’t do that. Why are you doing that?!’ and ‘PLEASE JUST STOP EVERYTHING THAT YOU’RE DOING’ in my little notebook.

Hero….ish.
Alright Robert. I would call you Bobby or Jacko because that’s what your… friends call you. But, to be honest, I don’t know if I want to be your friend because it seems you’re not a very good one. I won’t go into the details because I know it’s a sore subject and it just makes me upset to think about it because I thought we were going to be close and then you ruined it all (oh and also spoilers).
But you know what you did or what you didn’t do.
So we’ll leave it at that.

The journey that the reader goes on with Robert is fascinating and often difficult to read. It was hard to see Robert, the nervous and shy boy in the first chapter, be seduced by Ivan’s manipulative ideas and turn his back on everything he knew was right because he was afraid to standout and have Ivan’s bullying turn on him.(There is a moment where Robert says that he “hid by joining in” because it was easier to go along with Ivan’s “games” than it was to call him out.)
Even though I didn’t necessarily like him, I felt like I knew him. And even though I didn’t agree with the choices he made, I understood why he made them. Robert was a fascinating character and it was impossible not to sympathise with him, in spite of everything. I thought it was really effective seeing the events occur from his perspective as it introduced a lot of the thought-provoking questions that made this book so compelling.


But yes... Robert was definitely an interesting character and I’m still not 100% sure I had him completely figured out. One minute I wanted to hug him and tell him all was forgiven. And then the next minute I wanted to throttle him or at least frown until he understood that I was angry with him.

This book will stay with me for a long time and definitely made me think.
That’s right… think.
*looks suspiciously at the book*

I’m missing out a whole lot of these headings because I really don’t want to ruin anything for those interested in reading it.

Theme Tune.
Not so much a theme tune but more a topical tune.

Gimme a sec.

Topical Tune.
And also an excuse to use this song in one of my reviews.
Cal Me Al by Paul Simon (Zimbabwe Concert)

I have so much love for this man and this song and this video is just fantastic.

Sadness Scale.
10/10.
It’s weird to give this book such a high rating because it didn’t make me cry so much as it made me uneasy and on edge and I honestly don’t think making his audience sad was Mr Wallace’s intention and he didn’t make me… wait… ok, I’m gonna change things around before I give myself a nosebleed.
Gimme a sec.


Distress Scale.
10/10. OK, that’s better.
As I was saying, this book had me on edge. About everything. And it distressed me. I finished this book yesterday and I’m still thinking about certain scenes and fretting about them.
I’ve been dithering to and fro writing this review and I’m still not 100% sure that what I’m saying is going to make sense.
I don’t really want to go into the parts that I found most distressing because, obviously, they are more effective when you don’t know they are coming. Wallace doesn’t keep any of his characters safe, something tragic happens to pretty much every single one of them, but it never feels forced or as if Wallace has sat at his desk and thought ‘Damn, that character is in danger of having a happy ending. Quick think of something hideous to happen to them.’
And the fact that these issues were never milked or dwelled on for too long made them all the more upsetting. The conclusion of one of the events that I’m still thinking about was given approximately three lines… yet it still chilled me to the bone.

Recommended For.
People who are looking for a compelling historical YA novel that deals with difficult subjects in an honest and insightful manner.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself constantly reminded of a The Book Thief when reading this novel. They are both historical fiction, featuring a child in a new, alien setting. The narrator in both books repeatedly warns us that events are soon to take a sharp turn for the worse. Unfortunately the Book Thief is a much better novel, and is much less blatant in its foreshadowing, and is more nuanced in its characterisations.

Out of Shadows follows Robert Jacklin, an English boy who has moved to Zimbabwe following the war in the 1980s. At school, he falls in with the wrong crowd, becomes friends with white supremacist Ivan, and becomes an increasingly unwilling participant in the violent bullying that seems commonplace at this school.

The book did well in characterising Ivan. Although his actions are detestable, he is a very believable product of growing up in a country at war. The reader is almost led to sympathise with him in places, particularly in scenes where we see his farm get ravaged by the ex farm workers.

On the other hand, the "good guy" characters like Nelson and the black teachers at the school almost seem too angelic. A more nuanced portrayal of them would have ultimately served the book better. As it stands, they are simply two dimensional victims.

I was surprised to learn this book was meant for children given its very dark themes. Overall, it was a superb debut novel.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woah. This book was intense. Lots to think about. Painful, honest, compelling. The main character's arc was riveting, and as a reader I appreciated the way his own insecurities and weaknesses were entertwined with the brutal and fear-fuelled racist antagonists, his "friends." A starkly political and complicated story about the history of colonialism is a rarity in in YA lit. Recommended.

[Adeeb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words cannot describe how amazing this book was. At least my words can't.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

Everyone READ this!
It is written beatifully! It will haunt you. The story is very sad, but even more realistic.
I read this in one sitting. That's how good it was. Took me a few hours to finish reading this.

[Ceri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book many times now, and it remains one of my favourite novels of all time. Set in Zimbabwe in the 1980s, just after the end of the war, it captures vividly the feelings of the nation; black people full of optimism for a better future, and the fear from white people who had run the country for so long of what was to come, captured through the thoughts and actions of a group of young boys at one of the country’s best boarding schools.

What I love most about this book is it’s intricately created characters and the complexity of both their relationships with each other and their views on the world. There are some pretty dark themes in this book, and a lot of the characters do horrific things, but it is easy to see why they do them.

Our main character Robert is only a young boy when we first meet him, out of his depth in a country he knows next to nothing about. I liked Robert at first, but he gradually began to frustrate me with the ease in which he fell in with a bad crowd, and the way he willingly went along with them so long. I think at first, he’s both afraid of what will happen if he doesn’t fit in, and lured in by the idea of appearing “cool”, and it’s sad to see how easily Ivan and his friends manipulate Robert into doing things he doesn’t want to.

Ivan as a character breaks my heart. He is violent, ignorant, blatantly racist and does so many unspeakable things in this book, but I can see why. He is angry; angry at the way he’s being treated; angry at the things being done by Mugabe’s government; angry at the world. Early on in the book there are moments where we see a kinder side to him, playing with the worker’s children and comforting Robert, and it makes me wonder whether he might have turned out a different person if certain things hadn’t happened in his childhood to turn him towards hate. There’s a sort of chain reaction of events that send him down a dark path, and although his actions towards the end of the book are inexcusable, these events at least make them understandable to a certain extent. He is one of the most complex characters I have ever read, and I commend Wallace for the way he handled his story line and development.

The setting in this book also really helps add to the story. The heat of Zimbabwe; the closeness of the boarding houses, all create the illusion of stuffiness, of a tension created by the fact that none of the problems are escapable. The fact that for much of the book the main characters are stuck together only intensifies their feelings of hate, and adds to why it is so difficult for Robert to get away from Ivan.

The ending is maybe a little bit unrealistic but serves an important purpose. Robert is left wondering if he did the right thing, a question we all face from time to time; except for him the outcome probably has higher stakes. He is forced to make a decision when he has no idea if it is the right one, and ultimately has to live with the consequences for the rest of his life.

This book is a vivid and moving story both about how easier it is to fall down a path of destruction when you feel like you have nothing left at all; and about having to make difficult choices when you have no idea what is right.

[Mike]

Genre: Young Adult
Awards:
Rating: 5/5
Summary:
The novel is set in post revolutionary Zimbabwe. The narrator and protagonist, Robert Jacklin is a white British boy that relocated to Zimbabwe with his parents. Robert’s father came to Zimbabwe for a career in civil service. As a boy Robert is sent to Haven, a previously “all-white” boarding school. In order to please his father Robert befriends a young black student named Nelson .The school still has a very low proportion of black pupils despite Mugabe’s attempts at integration. As a result, the few black students who attend Haven are frequently subject to abuse by the native white population. Eventually fearing harassment from the white students, Robert distances himself from Nelson.

Robert falls in with a white boy named Ivan, who takes Robert under his wing. Ivan is a furious and intemperate young man who perceives himself as a victim of racial integration. Ivan longs for his home, as it existed before the war. Ivan is subject to abuse at home and worries about his future being in the hands of the new government. Although Mugabe aims to promote equality white farmers fear that the government will take their land despite promises otherwise. This fear fuels Ivan’s fathers and consequently Ivan’s passionate rage. Later Ivan encounters and is inspired by a man of action, the glorious Mr. Van Hout. As Ivan becomes closer to Mr. van Hout Robert must finally pick a side in the ensuing fight.
Evaluation: Overall the book was a good choice for a teen audience however it presented the reader with details that may not have been appropriate. That being said the book would be a good choice for an individual to read however it would not be suitable for a public institution to distribute to students.
Description of ending: Open: Although the main character has moved on the place he left behind has only plunged further into violence and turmoil. The character and the reader are lefts with many “what if” questions that are not answered. Many of the questions brought up in the story have still not been answered today and will not be answered with the current state of the government.
Suggestions:
This book was an excellent book that other authors could benefit from reading.
Pages I would read aloud:
Page 4 Particularly the part where Robert’s father praises Mugabe and calls him a hero.
Page 149 This page exemplifies the corruption and distortion perfectly.
Page 250 This page exemplifies Robert’s inner turmoil.

[Redd Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A devastating story that pulled at the depths of my compassion. Wallace explored the human ability to survive against the odds and the ways we devise to cope. When pushed far enough humans are capable of doing things we wouldn’t imagine. Wallace brings this all out in the painful story of youths placed in an impossible, but plausible environment. I could taste the depression. There seemed no relief.

The time was during the political shift of power from white supremacy to a black president following the 1980’s war in Zimbabwe. The county’s culture didn’t change fast enough and the effects of the war devastated the psyche of a boarding school there. Alliances built between young men, naturally and due to the war, had consequences no one should be required to confront.

It’s a story of the dark side of humanity. I hurt for protagonist and antagonist. It depicts a painful, but educational experience of the effects of racism on both sides of the divide and down the middle. It reminds us we are acting in compliance by not acting at all. I hated knowing, but was compelled to read. It left me informed, introspective and sad.

I only gave it four stars, because I couldn’t stand to feel the pain rereading it and five stars is my indicator of what I may reread.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Painful reading at first but becomes addictively un-put-downable. Set in Zimbabwe at the start of Mugabe's rule this is the story of a young English white boy sent to a boarding school. Deals with issues of bullying and race, hatred and revenge. And the big question of "if I put a gun in your hand and told you the man in front of you was Adolf Hilter, would you shoot him?". Would be a great book for a book club read as raises loads of issues. Fantastic story, although painfully thought-provoking.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb debut novel centered in an elite private boys school that begins in the early 1980s when Rhodesia has become Zimbabwe and Robert Mugabe has taken power as Prime Minister. A riveting story that explores deeply and thoughtfully a host of compelling themes and subjects: colonialism, racism, guilt, bullying, inequality, justice, revenge, and much more. A richly layered, gripping story!

[Edward Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for about a young man's experiences at the end of all white rule in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). It's a great book to help anyone remember the importance of standing up for others and themselves.

[Rll595ag_thomasjakovlic · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when your father is an idealistic ex civil servant from Britain who has relocated to Africa, and you enter Zimbabwe's social upheaval between white Rhodesian Afrikaans and native Zimbabwean's who want to assert their independence and new found power? This is the situation that Robert our teenage protagonist is thrown into in Jason Wallace's "Out of Shadows". The context is set early as Robert's father a British civil servant exclaims that to his son that colonial Britain should rightfully return the control of the country to native Zimbabwe's African population. The father has repatriated himself to the new Zimbabwe, and just placed his 13 year old son to an all male boarding school. The year is 1983. Britain has relinquished power to Zimbabwean military. Mugabe is the new leader, but no one at the time realizes that he will be a violently merciless to his own citizens and the former Rhodesian farmer overlords. Meanwhile, Robert is torn between making new friends and keeping his cultural allegiances to the white Afrikaan peers, while he tries to understand the nationalist desires and new found pride of his young native cohorts.

What makes Jason Wallace's book so authentic is not only that he describes the wild native beauty of the African savannah with such breathtaking detail, or that he understands the inner workings of a boarding school, Wallace attended a Zimbabwean's boarding school as a youth, instead it his intimate understanding of the power struggle and violence in the aftermath of the Zimbabwean's struggle for independence that is so apparent to the reader. Wallace doesn't pull any punches in describing how the Rhodesian farmer school boys are just looking to reassert their lost dominance in the social order. They will recruit any new white student to their cause, and Robert is on their list. Jason Wallace shows that 13 year old teenagers are not immune to the peer pressure nor nearly mentally resilient enough to overcome the social maelstrom of intimidation and violence that is not only consuming the minds and actions of the farmer boys. Robert inexorably gets sucked into the ethical vacuum of rationalized brutality, and we seem him gang beating his black brothers with Ivan and his thugs. This is not an easy book to read, or digest as to why Robert at least can't resist his cultural affinities to see the evil nature of his behaviors. Fortunately our protagonist eventually has a tug of at his conscience. Is it after a white teacher is raped, or after several innocent native Afrikaans many who early in the book befriended him are viciously abused. Either way, we see how Robert father's comments about who are the truly rightful owners of Zimbabwe and how his actions are causing havoc and pain comes to climax. Robert has an epiphany, and the novel then quickly accelerates to a new suspenseful climax. When a teacher poses the question "if you had a gun to Mugabe's head, comparing him to Hitler, would you pull the trigger.", Robert goes from villain to heroic champion, and the transformation of his spirit will pull all participants, good and bad, into a climatic ending with national ramifications to Zimbabwean's future.

This is not a book for middle school students. The brutal violence, and derogatory and vicious thoughts of a whole range of characters makes this a hard read with mature themes and ambiguous actions. "Out of Shadows" is a novel that talks in frank terms about what happens when a nation still has its white overlords wanting retribution for their losses of land, power, and prestige to their former social underlings. Jason Wallace's book would be a perfect novel for World History high school students who want an intimate look at how African independence is often a bloody and muddled journey. Wallace's ending me a bit unrealistic, but it appeals to young adult readers who want both a villainous and heroic character. Robert fits that bill in every way. The language, actions, and real life drama between these two cultures level of the boarding school is gripping literature. Parallels and differences between disenfranchised Rhodesian farmers and the Southern plantation whites of the Reconstructed South in the 1870's would provide Social Studies teachers with ample material for discussion and student research. As a literary example of ambiguity of character, and the idea of choices Robert makes and why, Jason Wallace's "Out of Shadows" gives educators many themes to explore: racism, peer pressure, politics, and corrupting influence power has on individuals.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very well written book set during a very turbulent time in Zimbabwe's history. I knew very little about the civil war in Zimbabwe and its aftermath in the 1980s (which is when this book is set) but definitely want to read up on it more.

The book is from the point of view of a young English boy attending boarding school in Zimbabwe. The book deals with some very strong themes and issues, and at times was a real page turner. However, very often, especially at the beginning I found the book incredibly dull and slow paced, hence the three stars.

[Caren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is an amazing book, but I must warn you---it will haunt you. I had to check that it was a novel and not a memoir, as it seemed as though it could have really happened. It reminded me of the adult nonfiction book, "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight" by Alexandra Fuller.
Robert Jacklin, a British boy, has moved to the new Zimbabwe in the early 1980s when his father gets a job at the British embassy. His mother is terribly unhappy and wishes to return to England, but his father is enthusiastic about the new government and its president, Robert Mugabe. His parents send him to an expensive boys' boarding school and his experiences there form the heart of the story. This would be a fantastic book to share with older teens, as there is so very much to discuss. Much of what this book contains is quite disturbing, so I would not present it to younger teens. The book takes an unflinching look at racism, bullying, corrupt politics, and interpersonal dymnamics both within Robert's family and among his school mates. This is an intense, gripping read. I absolutely couldn't look away, and yet, it is heart-breaking. This book is short-listed for the 2011 Carnegie Medal (a British award for an outstanding chidlren's book). I see it as a very strong contender.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been nominated for the Carnegie Book Award and it's been a controversial choice because of the violence and language involved. I found it to be no more violent than many films and games aimed at teenagers. I won't be recommending it to 11 and 12 year olds but the things that make it controversial are likely to make it all the more appealing to teens. The subject matter is interesting and thought provoking. If nothing else most kids should be able to identify with the theme of peer pressure, though in this case the consequences are quite extreme. I've heard one person say with some disgust that the schools were nothing like that, but isn't that the point of a story? It's fiction with a hint of history that provides us with an insight into the lives and minds of those who lived through it. Anyways I enjoyed it...

[Linley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a haunting, historical novel set around the time Robert Mugabe rose to power in Zimbabwe. The reader would do well to have a little bit of history of the sad and seemingly endless decline of this once beautiful and bounteous country. The breath-taking part of this book is the slow realisation Robert Jacklin, our narrator, has of himself and how much he wants to belong. But can he pay the price.?

A truly superb coming-of-age novel and would be well-worth considering for an NCEA response. I am even leaving in the pencilled notes as, for once, I think they add to the story. Recommended for Y11-13.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good:
This has been sitting on my Kindle for ages and for some reason I kept putting off reading it. Somewhere I had it in my mind it was a book written for young people and so was reluctant to read it. So I got towards the end of my Kindle on holiday and started this and I was pleasantly surprised. Gripping story and interesting points of view - easy to see how the protagonist got sucked in.

[Lee Al-Atraqchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The blatant racism described in it is very eye-opening. I recommend this book.

[Cordelia Archer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a brilliant book which highlighted the hatred that each race had towards the other after Zimbabwe gained independence. Very vivid descriptions but quite distressing to read in so much detail.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy fiction that also provides a history lesson, which this one does. The characters are really well drawn - I had moments of sympathy even with the most despicable of them!

[Summer PB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because the author really describes the characters feelings and really pulls you into the book. I also like this book because it is a touching book for so may reasons. As well it is a understandable and heart touching story to read. The only reason I gave the book 4 stars is because some people might think it is a slow, Long and boring book, but I definitely recommend this book, Out Of Shadows.

[Jenny / Wondrous Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of Shadows is one of the best debut novels I've ever read. It's fantastically written, and has left me close to how I felt when I read The Book Thief for the first time. It's powerful and important, and at times horribly shocking. I sat there in stunned silence after reading one particular page, and had to take a minute to fully comprehend what had happened. That's strong writing, if ever I saw it.

Out of Shadows begins in 1983, a few years after the end of the Rhodesian Bush War (or the Zimbabwe War of Liberation). Robert Mugabe is now Prime Minister, and Zimbabwe is no longer ruled by white people. I hardly knew anything about this historical event before reading this book, and so once again I was given a history lesson. It's very interesting, and is the first time I've come across this setting in a YA book.

Robert Jacklin is a very likeable character for most of the book, and I'm so glad it's written in the first person. He started off as an unassuming 13-year-old, and grew into a strong, decent man right before my eyes. He has more tough decisions to make and bad choices to live with than anyone that age should, but each shapes his life and who he becomes. His friends are a less desirable bunch, and though I see why Robert was so eager to be part of their group, things would have been vastly different if he'd stayed well away.

At times chilling and dark, yet strangely hopeful, Out of Shadows is one of those books that I know I'll revisit in the future. I've been thinking about it ever since I finished it, and am finding it hard to get it out of my head. I can't recommend it highly enough, and I hope it eventually gets the recognition and praise it deserves.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book looking for something light, having just ploughed through "Pilgrim's Progress". But in fact, no. This book was heavy for a different reason altogether. It follows a teenager as he grows up in a private high school in the newly independent Zimbabwe. Son of a British diplomat, his father sees Robert Mugabe as a great and magnanimous leader. The Zimbabwe born friends in school have different opinions.

This book is a tense novel, set in frightening times. There are plenty of racist attitudes on display by characters in the book, but in fact it is about much more than racism. This is a book about power and politics but more especially about hatred and strife in all walks of life, and where it leads.

This is definitely a book to make you think. I found it in the young adult section, but it is just as much a book for old adults too. Too heavy for younger children though.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as part of the carnegie award voting thing. Personally, I would never have chosen this book as i usually don't like historic books or anything to do with wars but this book is COMPLETELY different. Through out the book we follow a young boy as he goes through his school life. So many unfortunate thing happen to him such as bees almost killing him, close deaths in his family and others which I do not want to spoil for future readers. However, there are many bits of strong language through this book which I would like to warn people but in a way, this makes the book more exciting and real for this time. I very much enjoyed this book.

[Charlotte · Rating 1 out of 5]

Out of all the books on the Carnegie shortlist I admit this was NOT my favourite. A story about black history and politics in Africa - not my favourite topic.

This story follows the wierd life of an English boy in new Africa, ruled under Mugabe. As the blurb says - the conflict is not yet over, still racism is rife especially in schools. This kind of sounds good - I'm not keen on realistic books unless they have some action and this seemed to fit... but I wasn't impressed. That's for sure.

[Danil · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was really good. I had a nice start and a nice amount of problems that the main caricature has to deal with the Ending was really strong and the hole book was easy and understandable to read. I will fit really well to people that live in are world with a country that envoles different problems with White and Black people and it tells how they feel t reattach other making it really sad but still intresting to read and The book Is amassing Afryone should read it
Reating 4.5/5

[Ismael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sin duda alguna, sin margen de error, sin equivocarme, puedo decir que es ahora mi libro favorito. Te muestra tantas caras de los humanos vistas a través de los ojos de un adolescente... Tantos sentimientos... Amistad, venganza, dolor, familia, odio... Es un maremoto de emociones que terminan en una calma que continúa después de cerrarlo. Un libro asombroso sin duda. "Entre las Sombras"... Nunca te voy a olvidar. Mazviita, shamwani.

[Andy Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hoped for more in this novel of coming of age set mainly in a private school in Mugabe's Zimbabwe in 70s.

Read on the jacket that it's a book aimed at children - unsure about that myself. Certainly the novel asks questions - but I am left with memories of other private school settings - Unman, Wittering - Skippy Dies - Lord of Flies even.

[Sue Benn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A step into an African nation as independence settled in. An outsider .. a British schoolboy .. tells his story and shows how white settlers were adapting to the new regime. Not pretty. The narrator too is flawed, and has to live with his part in various events .. sometimes simply his inaction ..as he reaches adulthood. A gritty story of recent history for young high school students.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story! A coming of age story that takes place at boarding school in Zimbabwe, Africa. It's 1983 and the civil war is over. Their are bad feelings between the blacks and whites. It's a story of bullying, fitting in and racism. I enjoyed it and would recommend this historical novel.

[Emmaa22 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbing, dark, realistic and compulsive. It was a hard book to read, especially considering it´s labelled as YA, but very well written with sadly believable characters. Where peer pressure and youthful idealism are corrupted into something dreadful.