Shadow Creatures is an inspiring story of strength and resistance in the face of adversary. Based on real life events, family memoirs and all the incredible people who stood up to the Nazis as they tried to take over Europe, it gives readers a glimpse into another aspect of war.
This dual point-of-view adventure opens in 1940, following Tove (12) and Liva (9) through the difficult reality of the German invasion of their Norwegian village. With their father gone, their older brother must provide for the family. When away from home, he makes connections with the Milorag – a secret army (shadow creatures) who encourage Norwegians to stay loyal, fight and disrupt – to resist the German occupation. The people do all they can to survive and stay true to themselves.
Shadow Creatures reminds readers to value the stories of the older generations and take time to listen. The realisation that every older person was once a young person is so important. In Shadow Creatures, Chris Vick skilfully tells the story of each individual’s personal war – their identity, their fear, their loss and their victories. The wider concept of “war” is distilled into the realities of ordinary people trying to survive and fight for what they cherish.
Written for age 9+, Shadow Creatures is best suited to slightly older children (Key Stage 3) with stamina to tackle a more challenging, weighty story.
Thank you to Laura Smythe and Zephyr for inviting me to take part in this blog tour! Don’t miss the other stops on the tour:
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Scope for Imagination 