Description
Life has not been easy for Thomas since his dad died. His mother is acting strangely, he needs to care for his younger sister and things at school aren’t great. And then there’s the Other Shadow. The shadow that doesn’t belong to anyone. The shadow that wants to be Thomas’ friend. But who can you really trust when your world is falling apart?
Review
Thomas is a young boy who finds himself having to deal with his father’s death and theever-increasing issues with his Mum, which is causing problems in all aspects of his life, including at school. Her behaviour is erratic, and she often forgets to go shopping, cook meals, or do the washing.
And now that his Dad is gone, Thomas finds himself trying to look after his little sister Tilly as best he can. But there is always someone else around too, the Other Shadow. Thomas doesn’t know why or how he appears, but as life gets tougher, he is always there.
But Thomas is just a kid himself, and when the authorities step-in, Thomas and Tilly are exposed to the ups and downs of life in foster care. This unfamiliar world brings its own challenges, but it also has some upside too, including the stable and happy life that Ari and Becca offer them, along with their other foster children, Ollie and Em. And the Other Shadow is always present. But when his Mum seems to have improved, and they are reunited, Thomas doesn’t really know how to feel.
The Other Shadow disappears for quite a while, as the three of them try to rebuild their lives.
But when The Other Shadow returns, Thomas starts to wonder why? Can his Mum really hold it together, or will Thomas and Tilly find themselves once again caught in the middle?
This is a very powerful story about the effect that grief and mental illness can have on entire families. It shows how children can be caught up in situations that they can’t control, and the impact that it can have on all aspects of their lives. But it also highlights that with the help, compassion and the love of others, there is always hope for a better life. This is best suited to students in lower secondary and upper primary.
