Shadow Man

by Carole Lloyd, Tony Kerins (Illustrator)

From when he first sees him as a tall shadowy figure through the glass front-door, Matt has never trusted his mum's boyfriend Ian. Although it's obvious that Matt's mum and little sister Sara both adore him, Matt resents how quickly Ian has made himself at home. So when Ian disappears with Sara, Matt is sure that his suspicions have been right all along...that Ian has vanished back into the shadows - but this time with Sara.

64 pages, Paperback

First published December 27, 1992

Reviews

[Woff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strange little book, taking place over the course of a single evening, as Matt (unspecified age, 10-12ish?) returns home from school to find his mother’s new boyfriend, Ian, unexpectedly at their house with Matt’s little sister, Sarah. Ian, unplanned, has collected Sarah from school and accompanied her home. When Matt leaves for his paper round, he makes Sara promise not to leave the house until their mother gets home, but when she does, Sarah and Ian have vanished.

This was a childhood favourite - very brief, only 62 pages, accompanied by very simple, sketchy, evocative illustrations. The actual events that occur take a back seat to Matt’s thoughts and feelings, which are surprising grim and realistically sinister.

At around the same time I first read this (aged about 10), I read an author bio (forgotten who), where the author described his memories of childhood as primarily negative, and being in a state of constant uncertainty. This was a revelation after everything else I saw and read was telling me how childhood is “a magical thing” and “the best years of your life”.

I think these two things really summed up being 10 for me lol.