Shadow Award-winning by Michael Morpurgo (author)

Author/Illustrator

Michael Morpurgo

Michael Morpurgo is a master storyteller, weaving captivating stories full of drama and intensity that are coming to be regarded as true classics. Exploring the most profound subjects with a light yet powerful touch, his books tell unforgettable stories in simple, direct words.

Michael Morpurgo discovered his talent for writing while working as a teacher. “We had to read the children a story every day and my lot were bored by the book I was reading. I decided I had to do something and told them the kind of story I used to tell my kids – it was like a soap opera, and they focused on it. I could see there was magic in it for them, and realised there was magic in it for me.”

Living in Devon, listening to Mozart, and working with children have provided most of the stimulae Michael needs to discover and write his stories. He spends about half his life mucking out sheds with the children, feeding sheep or milking cows; the other half he spends dreaming up and writing stories. “For me, the greater part of writing is daydreaming, dreaming the dream of my story until it hatches out – the writing down of it I always find hard. But I love finishing it, then holding the book in my hand and sharing my dream with my readers.”

Reviews

1. Ibby spooner
   on 13 January 2011

   Shadow

   Its a lovely book and you should read it!!!!!!!:)

   5out of 5

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What kids think

1. DJkatie
   on 12 March 2019

   5 stars. The best book I have ever read it’s not just good it’s brilliant there’s a great storyline and a good amount of pictures too I,VE READ IT SIX TIMES !

   5out of 5

2. Ice-Kitty-Girl
   on 13 August 2014

   I loved it, a brilliant book, my favourite out of all Michael Morpurgo’s books. I read the whole thing, back to front, in one go lol. It took me about an hour and a half XD

   5out of 5

3. TommieGirl1906
   on 27 February 2014

   My favourite character is Shadow. He is a cute dog from what Michael Morpurgo wrote and I think that it is a sweet story.

   4out of 5

4. DreamWeaver73
   on 17 December 2013

   I love stories about war & friendship.& dogs! Although I think this will be a very sad book.

5. nessielove
   on 30 October 2013

   I got in to trouble because my dad told me the get to sleep but I couldn’t put it down i have read it 6 times!!!

   5out of 5

6. Coco88494
   on 11 June 2013

   It is very sad but it is a great story, I wonder what happens in the end!

7. Nashdasher
   on 9 March 2013

   UNPUTDOWNABLE absolute amazing but quite sad.

8. bouncybunny
   on 6 March 2013

   I loved this book I’ve read it at least 5 times a good book of friendship between a dog and a boy a brillantbook

9. megan18052000
   on 23 December 2012

   I borrowed this book from the libary 2 weeks ago and i hav’nt put it down since its really good. I now know who my faveourite author is it is michael morpurgo.

   5out of 5

10. imi264
    on 15 July 2012

    Once I started this book I could not put it down! I have read it two or three times now! Definitely read this book!

    5out of 5

11. littleturtle262
    on 1 July 2012

    Sad but amazing.

    5out of 5

12. trebleclef22
    on 28 June 2012

    This is my altime favourite book and have read many a time! The characters are matt, ahman and grandpa. Ahmen, matts best friend gets sent off to a immigration camp and matt asks his grandpa to visit, and ahmen tells grandpa his story of his early life and his experiences with shadow (a springer spaniel). would reccomend!

    5out of 5

13. maxxy18
    on 21 April 2012

    i loved every minute of this book. it was very sad and touching. i couldnt stop reading it! it was great and was my favourite michael morpurgo book! i would give it five stars!

    5out of 5

14. vampires567
    on 12 April 2012

    really really emotional at the end. i love this book

    5out of 5

15. bluebasher123
    on 9 March 2012

    a really gripping tale with a really good story line

16. AmyXx
    on 6 March 2012

    Great book!

17. RoBBs10
    on 4 March 2012

    Shadow is the best book I’ve ever read, however, the saddest to! This is a heart-wrenching tale, but, with a happy ending.

    It Is both for girls and boys but please, do be prepared because 9/10 of my friends haven’t read it because it’s too sad.

    This book wouldn’t let me put it down, when I used to be reading this at school I used to get so stuck in that when the bell went it REALLY frightened me!!!

    5out of 5

18. nikki657
    on 3 March 2012

    i think this is the next book im going to read it looks brill

19. dashernasher
    on 3 March 2012

    loved this so good. it made me cry.

20. svjimmy
    on 3 March 2012

    I borrowed ths book from a friend and i’m so glad that I borrowed it because I LOVED it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    5out of 5

21. smileitsfriday
    on 2 March 2012

    ADORABLE! My favourite Michael Morpurgo book ever! * * * * *! Shadow is such a cut and loyal dog!

22. loi77
    on 16 December 2011

    A touching and emotional book with tears and laughter guarantied a book which makes me angry and sad bake also makes me laugh. A must read.

    5out of 5

23. RoBBs-woo-yeah
    on 5 November 2011

    Shadow is all about a boy who is trying to save his best mate , Aman from being sent back to Afghanistan. Grandpa goes to see Aman and his family now being kept in a horrible prison before being sent back. When grandpa talks to Aman he gets told the story but then needs more infomation of how they have got into such a horrible state.

    The book is heart-touching and very sad, not recommended for people who don’t like sad storys, this book has adventure as far as it can go.

    Age group:9-13

    5out of 5

24. King100
    on 1 November 2011

    I thought that this book was amazing and it gets 11/10 from me. If you like adventure you will love this book. AMAZING!!!!!!!!

25. Robbiegrowler
    on 18 September 2011

    great book about a boy who is taken away.

26. Brook11
    on 14 September 2011

    I thought this book was BRILLANT!!! :)

    5out of 5

27. booksrcul
    on 28 July 2011

    It is a good book, however, it is not Michael Morpurgo’s best books.

    3out of 5

28. popstar19631961
    on 13 June 2011

    I have not read it but friend has just started on a kindle that my teacher has and she already loves ittttt xx <3

29. anakha
    on 12 June 2011

    i read a few pages from sentanta and it was good. i would love to read the whole book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    5out of 5

30. bobzo90
    on 7 June 2011

    exultant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!oh yeah duff man!

    5out of 5

31. Fifi44
    on 5 June 2011

    its really sad when grandma dies and also when aman and his mum have to leave shadow and carry on going to england without shadow to lead the way . i would recemend this book for people who like a tear to the eye READ IT READ IT READ IT

32. loopyleah5610
    on 21 May 2011

    this book is amazing it took me 1 day to read it half way through i was drowning in tears.

33. coolasacucumber
    on 15 May 2011

    As i read the first few pages of this book, i could definatley tell it was going to be great, and, it was! Tears filled my eyes whiles reading this book, especcially when the grandma dies. Shadow was my favourite character because she was a clever, kind and brave dog. I would personally love a dog like shadow! I would highley reccomend this book to anyone who enjoys a book that brings a tear to the eye. BRILLIANT!!!

34. Book-Club-Review-Team
    on 18 April 2011

    Shadow is a realistic tale by Michael Morpurgo. In this story a young boy called Aman who lives with his mother is forced out of his home by terrorists and a raging war. Aman then has to travel to England for safety .

    Don’t let front cover with the dogs face on deceive you – this book is not about a dog but the dog does play an important role.

    Shadow is a lovely book to read, and although it looks thick it’s actually a very quick read.

    Although it was a good book i feel it lacked emotion. It’s a very sad story and throughout the book you feel like you should by crying but you can’t.

    All the sad bits were too subtle, I think Michael needs to shove the emotion in our faces so we notice it more!

    Overall i thought this was a great story but with a lot of room for improvement. I give this book 4 stars.

    Tilly, age 11

    4out of 5

35. alice94
    on 26 March 2011

    Its the BEST book in the whole wide world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    5out of 5

36. yamato
    on 24 March 2011

    This book was a upsetting read get some tissues out because the story of Aman’s life is fascinating!

37. minigarethbale
    on 22 March 2011

    it is so tense. im afraid that if i carry on reading this book i will cry

    5out of 5

38. starlight17
    on 18 March 2011

    i really want to read this book ecause it sounds very interesting and absorbingggg.

39. victoire
    on 13 March 2011

    loved it.

    5out of 5

40. monkey00
    on 3 March 2011

    This book was one of the best books i have ever read, AMAZING!

41. gethi
    on 3 March 2011

    I’m reading it now and it seems pretty good!

42. Lolo95
    on 3 March 2011

    A great must read book that makes you cry especially if you have a dog.

    4out of 5

43. cookie8
    on 2 March 2011

    I thought it was amazing, I loved how the adventure never ended. I would recommend it.

    5out of 5

44. spongebob101
    on 1 March 2011

    This book is very good and i would recommend it to year 4 and above.Its the best book ive ever read.It was deffenately worth getting.Buy it!

    5out of 5

45. bookgirl150
    on 20 February 2011

    i so want to read this because it was recomended by the book wiz

46. Bookling
    on 25 January 2011

    This book has really touched my heart. I have a spaniel myself, so it was great to see all their habits put own in writing. The structure and plot was a bit weak, but the character of Shadow made up for it!I also thought the characters were a bit weedy, but on the whole, it was a good read.

    5out of 5

47. mozzie5
    on 25 January 2011

    i read this book and i loved every bit of it. it was amazing i got lots of my friends to read it too and they loved it!

    5out of 5

48. indigobeam
    on 2 November 2010

    This is such an amazing book. Filled with passion and empathy, it is flawlessly written and unique. I think Morpurgo is incapable of writing a less than perfect sentence.

    5out of 5