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When Shadows Fall
A heart-breaking and poignant novel from award-winning author Sita Brahmachari.
Kai, Orla and Zak grew up together, their days spent on the patch of wilderness in between their homes, a small green space in a sprawling grey city. Music, laughter and friendship bind them together and they have big plans for their future - until Kai’s family suffers a huge loss.
Trying to cope with his own grief, as well as watching it tear his family apart, Kai is drawn into a more dangerous crowd, until his dreams for the future are a distant memory. Excluded from school and retreating from his loved ones, it seems as though his path is set, his story foretold. Orla, Zak and classmate Om are determined to help him find his way back. But are they too late?
Kai, Orla and Zak grew up together, their days spent on the patch of wilderness in between their homes, a small green space in a sprawling grey city. Music, laughter and friendship bind them together and they have big plans for their future - until Kai’s family suffers a huge loss.
Trying to cope with his own grief, as well as watching it tear his family apart, Kai is drawn into a more dangerous crowd, until his dreams for the future are a distant memory. Excluded from school and retreating from his loved ones, it seems as though his path is set, his story foretold. Orla, Zak and classmate Om are determined to help him find his way back. But are they too late?
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About the author
Sita Brahmachari
33 books97 followersSita was born in Derby in 1966, to an Indian doctor from Kolkata and an English nurse from the Lake District. She has a BA in English Literature and an MA in Arts Education. Her many projects and writing commissions have been produced in theatres, universities, schools and community groups throughout Britain and America. ARTICHOKE HEARTS is her first novel for young people. Sita lives and works in North London with her husband, three children and a temperamental cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
August 9, 2023
Often times I look at life, and think to myself how hard it is to live. Especially when you suffer from so many problems, or maybe you have dread inside you, and feel like something’s missing. Could be a death that happened, or maybe it’s just a feeling you gradually possess from living same days over, and over again. You think to give up, and turn to the numbing side, because you know that it’s going to be the same thing, and fear starts spooking into you as well. At this point now you’re just so fed up. Well… There’s nothing I can say really that will ease this difficult adventure everyone goes on. And for everyone it’s different. You can’t really express into words how much stuff floats through your mind, and how much anger, sadness, grief and pain you have in you. Kai experienced this. They all did. We all did as well.
Yet I have learned that even though you have so much hardships in life… A person, as strong, and capable as you can make it through. Everyone is amazing, and I know for a fact how strong you can all be. Cry. Talk. Let all those feelings out. Because everyone deserves a happy life, and friends to rely on. 💙
Yet I have learned that even though you have so much hardships in life… A person, as strong, and capable as you can make it through. Everyone is amazing, and I know for a fact how strong you can all be. Cry. Talk. Let all those feelings out. Because everyone deserves a happy life, and friends to rely on. 💙
December 18, 2021
Unapologetic in its brutal honesty - beautifully written.
A coming-of-age story that centres around Kai and his family. Life can be tough, and life can be unfair, and this story holds back no sorrow. Written mainly as a narrative, there are bursts of free verse, intensifying the characters' emotional struggles.
Each of the POV's (Kai, Om, Orla and Zak) are empowering, despite the themes of mental illness, death, and grief. The trauma experienced by refugees is also seems authentically depicted.
The illustrations woven throughout the book were full of significance, ranging from double-page drawings to small illustrations in the corner of a page. Just beautiful.
A strong read not only for YA readers.
A coming-of-age story that centres around Kai and his family. Life can be tough, and life can be unfair, and this story holds back no sorrow. Written mainly as a narrative, there are bursts of free verse, intensifying the characters' emotional struggles.
Each of the POV's (Kai, Om, Orla and Zak) are empowering, despite the themes of mental illness, death, and grief. The trauma experienced by refugees is also seems authentically depicted.
The illustrations woven throughout the book were full of significance, ranging from double-page drawings to small illustrations in the corner of a page. Just beautiful.
A strong read not only for YA readers.
December 21, 2021
I was instantly drawn to the description of this book and couldn't request it quickly enough. I expected a heartwrenching coming-of-age story, packed with grief, bad decisions, and consequences. And while I got a version of that, it didn't grip me the way I had hoped.
WHEN SHADOWS FALL centres around four friends - Kai, Orla, Om, and Zak. Each falls into one or more of the following categories throughout the story: school friend, neighbour, love interest, foe, confidant, saviour. When Kai and his family suffer a devasting loss, Kai becomes lost, pushing his friends away, and turning to the ravens and weed for company. The story pieces together the events leading up to, during, and after his breakdown, with insights from Orla and Om who witnessed the downward spiral and Rain and Bow, Kai's closest ravens.
I can't really put my finger on what didn't work for me in this novel. Maybe it was the various perspectives with each voice portrayed through a different writing style; or the unexpected switches between diary, poetry, and art; or maybe it was just Kai's pent-up angst and conversations with ravens that I struggled to connect with. Either way, I found this one hard to get through. The story was a bit too much of a slow burn and my attention kept drifting. Some parts felt too dramatic/over-done which altered the realism for me. And as much as I felt Kai's grief, I just didn't warm to him. The other characters felt a bit two-dimensional as well, making it hard to get into their heads. I know others have loved this one but unfortunately, it wasn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 2.3
Writing style/readability - 2.2
Characters - 2
Diverse themes - 3
Ending - 2.5
Overall - 2.4
WHEN SHADOWS FALL centres around four friends - Kai, Orla, Om, and Zak. Each falls into one or more of the following categories throughout the story: school friend, neighbour, love interest, foe, confidant, saviour. When Kai and his family suffer a devasting loss, Kai becomes lost, pushing his friends away, and turning to the ravens and weed for company. The story pieces together the events leading up to, during, and after his breakdown, with insights from Orla and Om who witnessed the downward spiral and Rain and Bow, Kai's closest ravens.
I can't really put my finger on what didn't work for me in this novel. Maybe it was the various perspectives with each voice portrayed through a different writing style; or the unexpected switches between diary, poetry, and art; or maybe it was just Kai's pent-up angst and conversations with ravens that I struggled to connect with. Either way, I found this one hard to get through. The story was a bit too much of a slow burn and my attention kept drifting. Some parts felt too dramatic/over-done which altered the realism for me. And as much as I felt Kai's grief, I just didn't warm to him. The other characters felt a bit two-dimensional as well, making it hard to get into their heads. I know others have loved this one but unfortunately, it wasn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 2.3
Writing style/readability - 2.2
Characters - 2
Diverse themes - 3
Ending - 2.5
Overall - 2.4
October 27, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
This book was so raw and emotional that I feel like it should come with a warning. It's rare to read YA books about grief, death and mental health that deal with the subject matter in such a rounded and sensitive manner. The illustrations really made it come alive as well. It's also a love song to growing up in a council estate and the friendships that are formed through adversity. I think this should be in every public and school library (and adults would do well to read it too!).
This book was so raw and emotional that I feel like it should come with a warning. It's rare to read YA books about grief, death and mental health that deal with the subject matter in such a rounded and sensitive manner. The illustrations really made it come alive as well. It's also a love song to growing up in a council estate and the friendships that are formed through adversity. I think this should be in every public and school library (and adults would do well to read it too!).
April 22, 2023
Moving, visual and lyrical look at grief and a fall... and clamber back into the light.
This had me in tears more than once. It hits home and wallows in some fairly dark places with maturity and without glossing over the causes, the impact and the pain.
I only chose this as it was shortlisted for the Carnegie, as I like to try and complete this every year. It's one of the darkest on there, yes, and does force the reader through some emotional turmoil. But it's so very well-written, an unusual style and presentation.
At the start, we understand that Kai, now around 18, should be finishing his A-Levels but through some undisclosed family trauma that his friends have helped him through, he is now behind. He is writing down his experiences to put himself in order, and the rest of the book is then his story. His friends also share their own rememberings of the last few years, the good and the bad, the nostalgic yearnings for their younger years, and their own observations of Kai's life, his problems, their own coming together to help him.
So we know from the first that Kai is going to be okay. But that somehow doesn't make it any easier to live through his teenage years again with him and his friends. A best male friend, a female friend Kai feels attraction to, and the refugee boy who sees in Kai a brother and fellow sufferer, who needs to be the one to bring everyone together to help a friend in need.
Beautifully put together, the book adds a dimension that personally I don't usually like, with ravens becoming metaphor and character in their own right, playing the role of protector and symbol. Without them I felt the story would have worked just as well, but this is my own singular view and I understand that for many, much of the beauty of the book will have lain with Rain and Bow.
Black and white illustrations add further impact to the text, the characters feel real and in pain, young and earnest. It's hard to read but a worthy read and shortlisted award title.
For ages 13 and above.
This had me in tears more than once. It hits home and wallows in some fairly dark places with maturity and without glossing over the causes, the impact and the pain.
I only chose this as it was shortlisted for the Carnegie, as I like to try and complete this every year. It's one of the darkest on there, yes, and does force the reader through some emotional turmoil. But it's so very well-written, an unusual style and presentation.
At the start, we understand that Kai, now around 18, should be finishing his A-Levels but through some undisclosed family trauma that his friends have helped him through, he is now behind. He is writing down his experiences to put himself in order, and the rest of the book is then his story. His friends also share their own rememberings of the last few years, the good and the bad, the nostalgic yearnings for their younger years, and their own observations of Kai's life, his problems, their own coming together to help him.
So we know from the first that Kai is going to be okay. But that somehow doesn't make it any easier to live through his teenage years again with him and his friends. A best male friend, a female friend Kai feels attraction to, and the refugee boy who sees in Kai a brother and fellow sufferer, who needs to be the one to bring everyone together to help a friend in need.
Beautifully put together, the book adds a dimension that personally I don't usually like, with ravens becoming metaphor and character in their own right, playing the role of protector and symbol. Without them I felt the story would have worked just as well, but this is my own singular view and I understand that for many, much of the beauty of the book will have lain with Rain and Bow.
Black and white illustrations add further impact to the text, the characters feel real and in pain, young and earnest. It's hard to read but a worthy read and shortlisted award title.
For ages 13 and above.
January 13, 2023
3.8 strong on impact of trauma. Some beautiful sections.
March 10, 2024
at the beginning it was like ''meh'' the middle was not bad but the end i had mixed feelings abt it.
June 28, 2025
4 stars 🌟
Read this for children's lit but completely forgot to rate this!
Anyway I really enjoyed it. It was definitely a heavy read but honestly very well done 👏
Read this for children's lit but completely forgot to rate this!
Anyway I really enjoyed it. It was definitely a heavy read but honestly very well done 👏
November 23, 2021
Headlines:
Growing up
Life hurts
Emotionally charged
This read was an emotional experience but I knew that as I entered. The story centred around Kai and his family but really it was about growing up, friendships and a whole bite of tough life experiences. The story is written in the main through normal narrative, from the POV of Kai, Om, Orla and Zak but there are also moments of free verse that were incredibly poignant.
This is an empowering story but it is also packed with difficult themes such as mental illness, death, grief and refugee trauma and experiences. These themes were conveyed authentically and carefully by the author. Nevertheless, the words packed hefty emotional punches at times. I had to pause and take a break before I continued on because these words had the power to make me feel deeply.
The illustrations woven throughout the book were full of significance and poignancy. They ranged from double page spreads to small illustrations in the corner of a page. They made me stop and absorb and they were completely wonderful.
I would highly recommend this book for any teenager and above. Thank you to Little Tiger and Nina Douglas PR for the review copy.
Growing up
Life hurts
Emotionally charged
This read was an emotional experience but I knew that as I entered. The story centred around Kai and his family but really it was about growing up, friendships and a whole bite of tough life experiences. The story is written in the main through normal narrative, from the POV of Kai, Om, Orla and Zak but there are also moments of free verse that were incredibly poignant.
This is an empowering story but it is also packed with difficult themes such as mental illness, death, grief and refugee trauma and experiences. These themes were conveyed authentically and carefully by the author. Nevertheless, the words packed hefty emotional punches at times. I had to pause and take a break before I continued on because these words had the power to make me feel deeply.
The illustrations woven throughout the book were full of significance and poignancy. They ranged from double page spreads to small illustrations in the corner of a page. They made me stop and absorb and they were completely wonderful.
I would highly recommend this book for any teenager and above. Thank you to Little Tiger and Nina Douglas PR for the review copy.
November 1, 2021
This is, by far, the most heartbreakingly beautiful book I’ve ever had the pleasure to read.
I will start by asking you all to please check the trigger warnings. This book doesn’t just touch on sensitive issues, it shows you, unapologetically, the ugly truth of how 1 devastating event can snowball and, before you know it, life isn’t sweet, innocent & carefree, but dark, lonely and engulfed in pain!
When starting this book even with its poetic prose and the exuberance of youth, I had a sense of foreshadowing. I knew that innocence & hope would soon be snatched away and in the blink of an eye, the honest rawness of grief would force me to follow Kai, into the shadows. Lost. Numb. A shell of the person he use to be.
You seamlessly view the world through Kai’s eyes & his friends. Understanding his torment, troubles & journey as much as theirs. Knowing, even when Kai couldn’t see it, they were fighting for him. Willing him back. That through all the darkness, there was hope. There was light and there was unconditional love.
A powerfully emotive story. One that will break you before putting you back together.
One that shows the strength that can be found in the bonds of friendship, music, art & love.
I cried. I had tears falling. And as someone who is on her own mental health journey, this made me believe in hope again!
I use to say hope is paralysing, but hope is light. Hope is knowing that there is a Little Low Heaven.
Finally, the illustration is expressive, stunning & connects beautifully with the story.
I can’t thank NetGalley & the publishers enough for sending me an ARC eBook in return for an honest review.
#mentalhealth #death #grief #poignant
#bookrecommendations #bookreview #whenshadowsfall #bookworm #bookish
I will start by asking you all to please check the trigger warnings. This book doesn’t just touch on sensitive issues, it shows you, unapologetically, the ugly truth of how 1 devastating event can snowball and, before you know it, life isn’t sweet, innocent & carefree, but dark, lonely and engulfed in pain!
When starting this book even with its poetic prose and the exuberance of youth, I had a sense of foreshadowing. I knew that innocence & hope would soon be snatched away and in the blink of an eye, the honest rawness of grief would force me to follow Kai, into the shadows. Lost. Numb. A shell of the person he use to be.
You seamlessly view the world through Kai’s eyes & his friends. Understanding his torment, troubles & journey as much as theirs. Knowing, even when Kai couldn’t see it, they were fighting for him. Willing him back. That through all the darkness, there was hope. There was light and there was unconditional love.
A powerfully emotive story. One that will break you before putting you back together.
One that shows the strength that can be found in the bonds of friendship, music, art & love.
I cried. I had tears falling. And as someone who is on her own mental health journey, this made me believe in hope again!
I use to say hope is paralysing, but hope is light. Hope is knowing that there is a Little Low Heaven.
Finally, the illustration is expressive, stunning & connects beautifully with the story.
I can’t thank NetGalley & the publishers enough for sending me an ARC eBook in return for an honest review.
#mentalhealth #death #grief #poignant
#bookrecommendations #bookreview #whenshadowsfall #bookworm #bookish
May 3, 2023
Read as part of the YOTO Carnegie Medal Shortlist 2023.
I feel I should give some context around why I rated this what I rated it. It's unsurprising that this has made the Carnegie shortlist, it ticks all their usual boxes - issues based fiction, poetic language, multiform etc. Unfortunately this book simply felt like it was doing /too much/. The narrative lurches from devastating event to devastating event, unable to give any one thing the detailed treatment it deserves. The shifting narrative voice felt inconsistent - why have Kai narrate the entire first half of the book, and then suddenly change to rapidly alternating POVs? This is also guilty of using poetry to avoid looking directly at and picking the correct words to describe trauma, a particular pet peeve of mine.
I think the thing that rubbed me the wrong way about this was how much the kids didn't sound like real teenagers. The language was way too flowery and laden with weird clichés. Om's character was particularly guilty of this, speaking like a sage full of little nuggets of wisdom. This isn't to say that I don't think teenagers can be thoughtful and wise, I just think that they aren't, the majority of the time, and when they are, they're not so self aware about it. Om's trauma is also only referred to as it reflects Kai's, which leaves a bit of a bad taste to be honest. Felt a little empty and platitudinous.
I dunno, I think this book had too much going on - definitely needed to pick one or two things to focus on instead of packing it all in and not giving any of it room to breathe.
I feel I should give some context around why I rated this what I rated it. It's unsurprising that this has made the Carnegie shortlist, it ticks all their usual boxes - issues based fiction, poetic language, multiform etc. Unfortunately this book simply felt like it was doing /too much/. The narrative lurches from devastating event to devastating event, unable to give any one thing the detailed treatment it deserves. The shifting narrative voice felt inconsistent - why have Kai narrate the entire first half of the book, and then suddenly change to rapidly alternating POVs? This is also guilty of using poetry to avoid looking directly at and picking the correct words to describe trauma, a particular pet peeve of mine.
I think the thing that rubbed me the wrong way about this was how much the kids didn't sound like real teenagers. The language was way too flowery and laden with weird clichés. Om's character was particularly guilty of this, speaking like a sage full of little nuggets of wisdom. This isn't to say that I don't think teenagers can be thoughtful and wise, I just think that they aren't, the majority of the time, and when they are, they're not so self aware about it. Om's trauma is also only referred to as it reflects Kai's, which leaves a bit of a bad taste to be honest. Felt a little empty and platitudinous.
I dunno, I think this book had too much going on - definitely needed to pick one or two things to focus on instead of packing it all in and not giving any of it room to breathe.
November 15, 2021
When Shadows Fall follows the ups and downs of three friends growing up together: Kai, Zak and Orla. All is well and life is abundant with happiness, until a tragedy befalls Kai’s family and so the cruel hand of fate throws his life into turmoil. Wrong choices and decisions follow and Kai is on a path of self-distruct, until Orla, Zak and a new friend Om reach out to him and show the true meaning of friendship. Beautifully written by Sita Brahmachari, if you’re someone who has at some time, doubted whether you will do well in life, due to past choices you have made, then you will enjoy reading this and may empathise with the topsy, turvy pressures of life as a teenager.
November 25, 2021
Absolutely beautiful writing
May 2, 2023
Wow. This book made me cry a lot. I know I'm a real blubberer but this one seemed to make me cry in really random places. The words of Kai's friends as they were telling their side of the story as they were all living through traumas really hit me.
Not only is this book exquisitely written, it is a stunning book aesthetically. Thoroughly unflinching and unafraid to go to dark places yet beautifully uplifting.
Not only is this book exquisitely written, it is a stunning book aesthetically. Thoroughly unflinching and unafraid to go to dark places yet beautifully uplifting.
dnf
December 13, 2023DNF. I just couldn't get my head around the writing style. It was all over the place, repetitive and confusing. Got 15% of the way in and still had not clue what was going on. For a YA, it felt very inaccessible.
January 23, 2022
This book was dramatic, tragic, but very beautifully written. A marriage that is already going through a rough time, has a new child and then loses her. The impact it has on all the members of the family, and friends, is played out from the viewpoint of several friends of the son, and himself. Very sad book, but again, beautiful.
March 30, 2023
This Yoto Carnegie Shortlisted book is a powerful and poignant read. It tells the disturbing tale of Kai's descent into disconnect from his friends family and school. it has a clear message about supporting young people and not letting them fall through the cracks.
I wouldn't say it was enjoyable, and I'm not sure the young people who may benefit from this tale of descent and eventual return will actually want to read it.
It's one for year 8 plus, as long as they're not too easily upset, as although drugs, death and loss are key themes, nothing is explicit.
I wouldn't say it was enjoyable, and I'm not sure the young people who may benefit from this tale of descent and eventual return will actually want to read it.
It's one for year 8 plus, as long as they're not too easily upset, as although drugs, death and loss are key themes, nothing is explicit.
January 3, 2022
*Edit: this has been fixed* First of all, I think it an affront to this book that the wrong cover and author is on the photo.
This book is rather good and has a lot of really great rep for mental health, refugees and grief. Overall, a worthwhile read.
What i didn't like was the constant swapping of POV. It felt forced and took a lot away from the story for me. It was also very tell, not show.
This book is rather good and has a lot of really great rep for mental health, refugees and grief. Overall, a worthwhile read.
What i didn't like was the constant swapping of POV. It felt forced and took a lot away from the story for me. It was also very tell, not show.
May 12, 2023
A powerful and raw story of a teenager for whom life goes in a bleak direction. There is depiction of cannabis addiction and a scene of gang brutality, but this is handled well and builds empathy. Appropriate for age 13+?
December 8, 2021
This book managed to capture the thoughts and feelings of a young boy and his family as they spiral downwards after suffering a loss. I thought it portrayed extremely well the way that one event can have life changing consequences, and how, when looking back on these events we realise just how easy it could have been to change one reaction and create a whole different outcome. The sense of friendship in this novel is heartwarming at times and heartbreaking at others, as this group of old friends struggle to save Kai from the depths of his own mind. It covers topics such as grief, heartbreak and suicide that hopefully can help to spread awareness, as I know the author intended. Although the writing style at the beginning seemed childish, it soon became more mature as Kai grew up, and having the perspective other characters made it a gripping and heartbreaking read.
November 16, 2022
I'm sorry, but it was really boring. The ideas were good, but the plot was too slow and you had to reread every sentence just to understand what on earth was going on.
February 10, 2022
When Shadows Fall is a beautiful book that focuses on the story of Kai, as he grows up, and looks at topics like infant loss, grief, mental health and more (please check content warnings before reading as there are mentions of depression, suicide, child death etc).
I think the book is written very well and I truly felt for Kai and for all he was facing, at such a young age. I definitely think he was let down by the system and by his supposed support system, but of course it is difficult to know what is best for someone who appears as if they do not want help, so I do think most of the characters were doing what they could - and I liked seeing the characters acknowledge where they could have made a better decision for Kai, for themselves etc.
I think the book talks about many important but sensitive topics and I really liked it. Further on in the story, a new councillor arrives in the school only to be revealed as a police officer. We see this more and more in schools, and I think if the councillor had been a therapist, or at least someone better equipped to help kids in need, Kai’s life could’ve been different, but police officers in school (or lack thereof) is a very lengthy discussion to be had.
I would’ve loved to see the perspectives of Kai’s parents, as the loss of a child is one of, if not the worst loss a person can face and I think it would’ve been interesting yet heartbreaking to see what battles they were having with themselves.
I do like multiple POVs, but I wish it had been clearer with the timeline as well as when it was the characters discussing in the present rather than the letters from the past. I also prefer books where they aren’t written as the main character writing a book about their life, but that’s personal preference. I also wish the ending was slower paced and longer: I felt the beginning was quite slow but the story wrapped up super quickly and I wish there had been more.
Overall I enjoyed the book and I do recommend.
Note: I read an uncorrected proof copy from my library which unfortunately didn’t have the illustrations, I wish it did as the descriptions of then were lovely!
I think the book is written very well and I truly felt for Kai and for all he was facing, at such a young age. I definitely think he was let down by the system and by his supposed support system, but of course it is difficult to know what is best for someone who appears as if they do not want help, so I do think most of the characters were doing what they could - and I liked seeing the characters acknowledge where they could have made a better decision for Kai, for themselves etc.
I think the book talks about many important but sensitive topics and I really liked it. Further on in the story, a new councillor arrives in the school only to be revealed as a police officer. We see this more and more in schools, and I think if the councillor had been a therapist, or at least someone better equipped to help kids in need, Kai’s life could’ve been different, but police officers in school (or lack thereof) is a very lengthy discussion to be had.
I would’ve loved to see the perspectives of Kai’s parents, as the loss of a child is one of, if not the worst loss a person can face and I think it would’ve been interesting yet heartbreaking to see what battles they were having with themselves.
I do like multiple POVs, but I wish it had been clearer with the timeline as well as when it was the characters discussing in the present rather than the letters from the past. I also prefer books where they aren’t written as the main character writing a book about their life, but that’s personal preference. I also wish the ending was slower paced and longer: I felt the beginning was quite slow but the story wrapped up super quickly and I wish there had been more.
Overall I enjoyed the book and I do recommend.
Note: I read an uncorrected proof copy from my library which unfortunately didn’t have the illustrations, I wish it did as the descriptions of then were lovely!
April 4, 2025
3.5 🌟
This was another Carnegie medal nominee (which I feel is like the Booker of the YA world), and I always love seeing what YA writers do with the theme of grief. And I have to say, just like PLAY by Luke Palmer (another Carnegie nominee), I feel heartened that this is the type of YA getting nominated for such a prestigious award. Because just like PLAY, this was YA like I've never seen before. Creative and beautifully written, it read much more like literary fiction (even for me it was a little confusing at times), starting at the end of the story and jumping back and forth through time and through all these different view points, and along with the fact of it being a slow-burn (which personally, I love) I reckon this might actually be a pretty advanced read for a lot of kids. However, overall, I enjoyed it, even though it took me a while to get into. I didn't vibe with everything, and I found all the poetry and diary entries very distracting, but I thought the overall message was fantastic, and I loved the many different voices too, often telling the same story but from a different point of view (very clever), plus I loved how dark it got near the end - I loved how she didn't pull any punches. I feel like I went into this one more for research purposes, but by the end, I was totally won over. In short, this is a literary YA about familial grief, male mental health, and what happens when kids fall through the communal safety net - a sad, heavy, but ultimately uplifting read.
This was another Carnegie medal nominee (which I feel is like the Booker of the YA world), and I always love seeing what YA writers do with the theme of grief. And I have to say, just like PLAY by Luke Palmer (another Carnegie nominee), I feel heartened that this is the type of YA getting nominated for such a prestigious award. Because just like PLAY, this was YA like I've never seen before. Creative and beautifully written, it read much more like literary fiction (even for me it was a little confusing at times), starting at the end of the story and jumping back and forth through time and through all these different view points, and along with the fact of it being a slow-burn (which personally, I love) I reckon this might actually be a pretty advanced read for a lot of kids. However, overall, I enjoyed it, even though it took me a while to get into. I didn't vibe with everything, and I found all the poetry and diary entries very distracting, but I thought the overall message was fantastic, and I loved the many different voices too, often telling the same story but from a different point of view (very clever), plus I loved how dark it got near the end - I loved how she didn't pull any punches. I feel like I went into this one more for research purposes, but by the end, I was totally won over. In short, this is a literary YA about familial grief, male mental health, and what happens when kids fall through the communal safety net - a sad, heavy, but ultimately uplifting read.
July 17, 2023
Summary
When Shadows Fall is a story that follows the lives of three friends, Kai, Zak, and Orla, as they grow up together. Kai's family suffers a tragedy, and he is left to deal with his own grief while watching his family fall apart. He is drawn into a new and more dangerous crowd, and his dreams for the future become a distant memory
notes:
there is a lot of free verse to show the characters emotional struggle
Shows what a community can do if they come together and help
a key takeaway: never bottle up your problems let them out to someone you trust
shows the con sequences of choices you make however it is never late to turn back and turn your life back around again.
The book overall was compelling showing the stages of grief and what it can do to one however the actual read was a... difficult read. the characters would switch just as soon as you started to understand what was going on, maybe the author did it on purpose to show how kai's friend couldn't truly get to understand him before he moved on further away from them (metaphorically) but once you finish the book you enjoy it but i would like it to be a less confusing as at some points i was just sitting like what the hell just happened. i would recommend if you like to read difficult books about grief and contemporary lives.
⚠Trigger warning⚠
mental health issues, suicide, infant death, PTSD, violence, gangs, drug abuse, grief and depression
When Shadows Fall is a story that follows the lives of three friends, Kai, Zak, and Orla, as they grow up together. Kai's family suffers a tragedy, and he is left to deal with his own grief while watching his family fall apart. He is drawn into a new and more dangerous crowd, and his dreams for the future become a distant memory
notes:
there is a lot of free verse to show the characters emotional struggle
Shows what a community can do if they come together and help
a key takeaway: never bottle up your problems let them out to someone you trust
shows the con sequences of choices you make however it is never late to turn back and turn your life back around again.
The book overall was compelling showing the stages of grief and what it can do to one however the actual read was a... difficult read. the characters would switch just as soon as you started to understand what was going on, maybe the author did it on purpose to show how kai's friend couldn't truly get to understand him before he moved on further away from them (metaphorically) but once you finish the book you enjoy it but i would like it to be a less confusing as at some points i was just sitting like what the hell just happened. i would recommend if you like to read difficult books about grief and contemporary lives.
⚠Trigger warning⚠
mental health issues, suicide, infant death, PTSD, violence, gangs, drug abuse, grief and depression
May 30, 2023
🎧 REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK 🎧
"I see that we are a family of broken blue sky, fragments of crushed hope, our sunshine faded out."
Wow. I shouldn't have listened to this one at work. I pretty much spent the whole of my shift trying not to cry for the people in this story, and I think the rawness of the narration really added to it,along with the dark inner thoughts and some things that are said that were so deeply relatable on a personal level for me.
This coming of age story IS full of tragedy and facing ones darkest of shadows and fighting against both internal and external demons, written with a poetic and somber tone it takes you on a journey that is told through the likes of writing a journal.
Kai has his two friends filling in the blanks that he can't recall as he writes. So we get three perspectives of what is happening... And at a couple of chapters we get the ravens too. I love how the author changed the writing style for each narrative it made the story so much more real.
This was such a fantastically sad story, and while not particularly exciting in plot, it's the rawness and the reality of the story that kept this going strong. When Shadows Fall is probably going to be one of my favourites of the year. Fully recommend!
Narration ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Story 📚📚📚📚📚
"I see that we are a family of broken blue sky, fragments of crushed hope, our sunshine faded out."
Wow. I shouldn't have listened to this one at work. I pretty much spent the whole of my shift trying not to cry for the people in this story, and I think the rawness of the narration really added to it,along with the dark inner thoughts and some things that are said that were so deeply relatable on a personal level for me.
This coming of age story IS full of tragedy and facing ones darkest of shadows and fighting against both internal and external demons, written with a poetic and somber tone it takes you on a journey that is told through the likes of writing a journal.
Kai has his two friends filling in the blanks that he can't recall as he writes. So we get three perspectives of what is happening... And at a couple of chapters we get the ravens too. I love how the author changed the writing style for each narrative it made the story so much more real.
This was such a fantastically sad story, and while not particularly exciting in plot, it's the rawness and the reality of the story that kept this going strong. When Shadows Fall is probably going to be one of my favourites of the year. Fully recommend!
Narration ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Story 📚📚📚📚📚
June 11, 2023
4.5 stars out of 5
To begin with, I found this book a little difficult to get in to because of the different jumps in time, and the deep sense of foreboding that was present from the start (as this made me so impatient to find out what happened 😄).
However, by the end, I could barely put it down to get a tissue for my tears.
What I loved:
- the characters; how the story was told by multiple perspectives, as for me that gave them even greater depth.
- the story; how there was hope despite the darkness, and the way that small actions by Kai's friends, family and community had such a huge impact. Also how Sita touched on social issues - like racial discrimination, homelessness and the environment - though they didn't overpower the main themes of grief and hope (something I found she did fantastically in another book of hers I read recently - Where the River Runs Gold)
- Finally, once I understood them, I really liked the timing as I felt it was so interesting to have Kai, Om and Orla narrating and then reflecting on the events; and I also loved the open end, how everything wasn't tied up perfectly in the narration, but how you knew things had turned out for the better because of the structure and the character's reflections.
Overall: Amazing
To begin with, I found this book a little difficult to get in to because of the different jumps in time, and the deep sense of foreboding that was present from the start (as this made me so impatient to find out what happened 😄).
However, by the end, I could barely put it down to get a tissue for my tears.
What I loved:
- the characters; how the story was told by multiple perspectives, as for me that gave them even greater depth.
- the story; how there was hope despite the darkness, and the way that small actions by Kai's friends, family and community had such a huge impact. Also how Sita touched on social issues - like racial discrimination, homelessness and the environment - though they didn't overpower the main themes of grief and hope (something I found she did fantastically in another book of hers I read recently - Where the River Runs Gold)
- Finally, once I understood them, I really liked the timing as I felt it was so interesting to have Kai, Om and Orla narrating and then reflecting on the events; and I also loved the open end, how everything wasn't tied up perfectly in the narration, but how you knew things had turned out for the better because of the structure and the character's reflections.
Overall: Amazing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2025
I think this is one of those Carnegie shortlist books that ticks boxes (serious issues, unusual format/not just text) but isn't a book I would recommend to more than one or two of my students. Which is disappointing when the Carnegie Shadowing exists to encourage young readers and this book is more likely to put them off it.
It's a bleak story full of devastating events. But they feel overdramatic and the characters are all so overwrought that it didn't seem believeable. The story starts as Kai's friends are getting their A Level results then we go back in time to view past events. The main plot point occurs when Kai is in Year 7 but after that the timeline gets muddy. Some characters have little or no growth over a five year period which only adds to the feeling of disconnect. Moreso because the child/teenage characters don't seem believeable. They act like teenagers at 11 and then when they are teenagers the way they speak isn't authentic. It felt as though the poetic language and imagery was prioritised over realism.
The flowery language and symbolism made it hard at times to decipher exactly what was happening. I also felt that the ending was very rushed. There wasn't any suspense because the book opened with events after the climax of the story, but it still lacked an explanation of what exactly had happened. Again, the timeline was muddy.
The book deals with heavy themes so it's one for older readers.
It's a bleak story full of devastating events. But they feel overdramatic and the characters are all so overwrought that it didn't seem believeable. The story starts as Kai's friends are getting their A Level results then we go back in time to view past events. The main plot point occurs when Kai is in Year 7 but after that the timeline gets muddy. Some characters have little or no growth over a five year period which only adds to the feeling of disconnect. Moreso because the child/teenage characters don't seem believeable. They act like teenagers at 11 and then when they are teenagers the way they speak isn't authentic. It felt as though the poetic language and imagery was prioritised over realism.
The flowery language and symbolism made it hard at times to decipher exactly what was happening. I also felt that the ending was very rushed. There wasn't any suspense because the book opened with events after the climax of the story, but it still lacked an explanation of what exactly had happened. Again, the timeline was muddy.
The book deals with heavy themes so it's one for older readers.
April 19, 2023
I am a school librarian who has read this book as part of the Carnegie Medal Shortlist Shadowing program that the school I work in is doing and that I am leading.
This book was one of the saddest things I've read in a while. It deals with a lot of issues but it did it in a very respectful, poignant, and real way.
At its core, the story is about four friends who are bound together by a small wooded area outside an apartment complex, The Greenlands, and how the protagonist, Kai, suffers a major loss in his life and spirals into depression. It is also about how his friends bring him back to himself and to safety.
This book is very good, and I quite enjoyed it. But, as a school librarian, I would definitely put this in the category of 13+ books. The themes are quite heavy and the average younger reader might not appreciate or fully grasp some of it. An advanced 11+ year old would definitely benefit from reading this, though.
This book was one of the saddest things I've read in a while. It deals with a lot of issues but it did it in a very respectful, poignant, and real way.
At its core, the story is about four friends who are bound together by a small wooded area outside an apartment complex, The Greenlands, and how the protagonist, Kai, suffers a major loss in his life and spirals into depression. It is also about how his friends bring him back to himself and to safety.
This book is very good, and I quite enjoyed it. But, as a school librarian, I would definitely put this in the category of 13+ books. The themes are quite heavy and the average younger reader might not appreciate or fully grasp some of it. An advanced 11+ year old would definitely benefit from reading this, though.
May 7, 2023
Shortlisted for this year's Carnegie Prize and this is a very emotional read and covers topics such as mental health, grief and death. It is also a novel about growing up and the value of friendship. Kai is a year behind his friends, they are waiting for their A'Level results while he won't take his exams until the following year because his education was disrupted by a family trauma/tragedy. At this point we don't know what it is, but Kai needs to write down his story to help himself to really heal and this is what the book is - his story. But at times he also needs input from his friends - they lived through this with him and he needs their perspectives and insights. And so what we have is Kai's story in his words and the words of his friends Om, Zak and Orla. The story they tell us raw and painful and even though we know that these are memories, it doesn't stop the words piercing us. We even have the addition of ravens and their connection to Kai, they are almost his protectors. The format of the book is an intermingling of prose and verse with black and white illustrations which added an extra dimension. A powerful and raw read.
April 6, 2022
I chose to read this book because it was suggested for fans of Dean Atta, who I really like!
I wasn’t too sure what I was going to find in this story but, from the start, I found a very unique way of telling it.
When Shadows Fall is told in two different voices, prose and poetry, which makes this story even more special. In this book, friendship, hope and grief are the main topics we are presented with.
When Kai, our main character, starts struggling in life, after an important loss change his family dynamic, he finds himself spiralling down in what seems a bottomless end.
It will take time and help to start seeing the light at the end of the storm, but this book will show you how important is to keep going and to take advices from those who love you and want the best for you.
One of my favourite quotes was - (Referring to parents, in general):
‘Then comes an age
When you discover that they can fall too’, on page 18.
Loved it!
I wasn’t too sure what I was going to find in this story but, from the start, I found a very unique way of telling it.
When Shadows Fall is told in two different voices, prose and poetry, which makes this story even more special. In this book, friendship, hope and grief are the main topics we are presented with.
When Kai, our main character, starts struggling in life, after an important loss change his family dynamic, he finds himself spiralling down in what seems a bottomless end.
It will take time and help to start seeing the light at the end of the storm, but this book will show you how important is to keep going and to take advices from those who love you and want the best for you.
One of my favourite quotes was - (Referring to parents, in general):
‘Then comes an age
When you discover that they can fall too’, on page 18.
Loved it!
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