Shadowshine: An Animal Adventure (22)

by Johnny Armstrong

On a quest to rescue his community from a fiery demise, Zak, a possum and a poet, seeks assistance from rodent clans in the North and sets out on a journey into a vast and forbidding forest. But separated from his own surroundings and his wise bob-cat companion, Sena, he quickly loses all sense of direction and becomes hopelessly lost in an ancient wilderness. Here, Zak enters a world of self-discovery as he struggles to survive starvation, wolf predation, drowning, illness and ice. Meanwhile, his forest-folk comrades he left behind suffer the menace of drought, wildfire and the malicious deeds of Mungo, an indomitable villain actively ravaging precious ecosystems. As Zak's feathered and furry friends await such an uncertain future, they formulate the theory that Mungo and the others of his species have lost cognizance of what they are, causing them to become “familiar” and bring havoc upon the forest -- all, because they were never taught to use their noses as a reference. But unbeknownst to everyone, the havoc originates inside a dark world whose terrifying resident has, itself, become familiar; and Zak will play a key role in events that ultimately end in a savage showdown.

284 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2019

About the author

Author, conservationist, and retired medical doctor Johnny Armstrong lives with his wife, Karen and canine sweetheart Opal, in an old-growth forest and woodland protected by The Nature Conservancy outside of Ruston, Louisiana.

Reviews

[Reader Views · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Rachel Dehning for Reader Views (11/19)

“Shadowshine: An Animal Adventure” by Johnny Armstrong centers around Zak, a philosophical poet-possum. Zak is usually seen with his friend Sena, a bobcat who is wise like Zak. Growing up, Zak was raised by rodents, which has resulted in him now being the only bilingual member in their community of forest-dwellers, bestowing on him extra responsibilities and pressure among his peers. Word has gotten out that the foreign beings known as the “sans-pelage” have been committing crimes of heat toward the animals forest homes, with the malicious Mungo being the main culprit. It’s only a matter of time before their dastardly deeds reach to Zak’s neck of the woods, so Zak volunteers to head out of his comforting homeland to the north to seek out help from legends and strangers. Zak will face many perils on his quest, problems dealing with hunger and different situations that will test his ability to survive, but if he’s successful, it will mean everything to the animals. With the help of The Architect and his friend Elbon the skunk, maybe this trip won’t be “Inconceivable!”

Armstrong, a retired medical doctor and conservationist, has written a book very much in favor of forest preservation and human’s involvement in deforestation, and has compared it to how it affects the animals living there. To present all of this information in an entertaining way, he has created an animated story with animals as the characters, but the story isn’t one that is necessarily recommended for children to read as the content reads at a more advanced level than a child would normally read or understand. Plus, some references in the story are geared toward the evolution of animals (depending on what you believe on that topic). “Shadowshine” is worth the read, especially if you are a fan of conservation and heroes on quests to save their homelands.

I believe that Armstrong was successful in getting his conservative point across about caring for animals in the forest, mostly because they aren’t rational thinkers like us humans, so they don’t even have the option of taking away our homeland, like we do to theirs. The style of writing for this story was done well, but personally for me, there were parts in the story that took too long to make sense or to keep my attention. That being said, I believe in the purpose of this book and wish to see everyone/thing living in harmony and adding a quest from a possum as the storyline makes it more interesting overall. In conclusion, “Shadowshine: An Animal Adventure” by Johnny Armstrong is a well-written book that makes the readers think about what they are reading, and hopefully be able to apply it to their daily lives.

[Elizabeth Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely discover a book that completely engages me in its story and characters, while making me stop and think about underlying issues at the same time. "Shadowshine" did that and more. Both adult and more mature young adult readers will enjoy the adventure and fall in love with many of the main characters, but they'll also come away (as I did) with a new-found respect for nature and a deep concern about how systematically humans are destroying it. Dr. Armstrong's first novel should be on the shelves of public and school libraries and in the hands of all public and private wildlife conservation group members. "Shadowshine" is a cautionary tale beautifully told.

[Janet S · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important and timely message!!! I Loved this book! It has a timely environmental message told from the point of view of some endearing animal characters. The author is obviously extremely knowledgeable with regard to plant and animal species, and is able to beautifully describe the settings and characters in a sophisticated and yet lighthearted way.

Jan Thibault

[LitPick Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zak, the main character of Shadowshine: An Animal Adventure, is a possum who lives in a prehistoric forest. Because of his unique ability to speak in both the tongues of the rodents and “forest folk," he serves as a liaison between animal species. Known as “The Poet," Zak has the important job of presiding over animal wedding ceremonies. On his journey through the prehistoric forest with his wise bobcat friend, Sena, Zak hears troubling news. A mouse and then an owl warn him that humans, new creatures to the forest, are setting fires that are burning down the trees. In an attempt to stop the malicious acts of Mungo, the leader of these destructive humans, before they reach his home, Zak sets off on a quest to get help from the animals of the North. On his adventures, he learns many lessons and meets new animal friends, but he also becomes lost and faces many dangers in the unknown regions of the forest. Will Zak be able to triumph over the perils he faces? Will he be able to stop Mungo before he burns down the entire forest?

Opinion:
Shadowshine is a very unique book. It is set in the period when humans first appeared on earth, but it speaks to the environmental issues of today. The author paints such vivid pictures of Zak’s animal friends and their surroundings that I sometimes felt as if I were traipsing through the forests with him. This book explores several thought-provoking themes. It discusses evolution, emphasizing that an acceptance of death is necessary for the functioning of the food chain and for overall equilibrium in the natural world. It stresses the power of communication, coexistence, and perseverance. Last, it exemplifies the power of unity when facing a common enemy. To me, this book is especially valuable because it addresses the pressing issue of human impact on the natural world from the perspective of the animals most affected by it. It has a message everyone should hear, but much of the vocabulary is likely over the heads of most children and even some young adults. Therefore, I recommend this book primarily to adults who have a passion for the natural world and are interested in an allegorical story about human impact on the environment.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book on so many levels. First, it is an engaging eloquent often amusing adventure story set in prehistoric times with delightful animal characters. The central character, Zak, is lovable and at times very funny. The story is interwoven with a powerful environmental message without being overbearing or preaching. This environmental message is imperative in our times and reflects the author’s deep commitment to conservation of our natural world. It’s a message that all of us need to take to heart.
Even though Zak, the central character, is said to be 48 years old in the story, I often found myself thinking of his experiences having a lot in common with an indigenous walkabout, vision quest or heroes’ journey.
All told, this book is amazing by any standards, even more so as it is the author’s first published novel at an age when most people have retired to passivity. It is a well written page turner. I highly recommend it.

[Senneh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadowshine is not only immensely entertaining, it also provides a much deeper commentary on the environmental damage that humans, or “sans-palages,” continue to wreck on the environment. The story is told from the perspective of the forest folk, and from such a perspective, offers great insight into the narrow and short view of the human race. It is impossible not to fall in love with the characters and enjoy every minute of the adventure. A must read—hugely entertaining and thought provoking—the best combination.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Shadowshine is a delightful and captivating read that weaves a tale of great adventure with unique and entertaining characters called forest-folk. The main character, Zak, a 48-year-old possum, is mesmerizing and wise beyond his years. The author brilliantly develops the magnificent personality of each character, enabling the reader to journey vicariously with them through their mysterious and undisturbed forest. Armstrong's style is original, ingenious, and eloquent--I hope we see more of his work!"
Penny

[K.R. Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadowshine is a grand novel of ideas disguised as a charming animal fable. It addresses big questions of identity, society and reality as it follows Zak the bilingual possum-poet on his odyssey to defend the (delightfully eloquent) forest creatures of his region against an existential threat. I had the extra pleasure of hearing the author read from it a couple of weeks ago. If you get that chance, take it.

[Natalie Clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadowshine is a fun read that combines natural history with adventure and just a touch of magic. The main character is a lovable possum, Zak, who is on a journey in a prehistoric landscape for information to save his way of life, but he also bumbles into self-discovery. Johnny Armstrong really brings the characters to life while introducing the reader to a diversity of animals and habitats that poetically emphasize the need for conservation both in Zak’s world and ours.

[Christine Pietryla Wetzler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this article did a better job of explaining my thoughts than I can: https://www.whatisthatbookabout.com/t...

[Shradha · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I received the book, I noted that the excerpts of other reviews on the book noted it as similar to "Watership Down" and "Lord of the Rings." Now, having read it, I see where the comparisons come from, and can agree that the book has a certain heart and character that evokes imagination similar to those two works. Zak, our opossum protagonist, is an amusing and a bit self-promoting, but is well-balanced by the patience and pragmatism of his bobcat friend, Sena. When a threat appears to menace their homeland, the two must embark on a journey that will test their abilities to the limit.

As I understand, Armstrong is a conservationist, and after reading this book, it's very clear how this colors the story and very purpose of the book. That being said, at times it became very heavy handed in how this impacted the dialogue, as there appeared to be very obvious mini "eco-lessons" intermingled in the characters' speech. Still, the author did an excellent job with characterization, and the story itself is interesting enough to allow me to accept and root for Zak and Sena's mission the same way I did for Hazel and Fiver's when I was younger.

Thank you to ReaderViews and the author for sending me a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.