The Girl Who Lost Her Shadow - review

Hello hello my lovelies,

I'm sending out apologies galore! My school workload has been horrendously busy just lately and I just haven't had time to blog. I have a lovely new NQT in my parallel class now who seems to be the total opposite to the last one (yay!) so I'm hoping I will get more time as she gets more confident and starts to take some planning and jobs from me.

Now onto the book review. I've done a few on NetGalley (I really should link that account to here) but this one I've decided to do a full review for seeing as I don't have that many here on my blog.

The Girl Who Lost Her Shadow by Emma Ilett
















Synopsis
"Shadows were meant to stay stuck, like ears and promises." On the morning of Gail's birthday, she watches her shadow slip under the kitchen door. She's not surprised it decided to leave. Her dad has gone for good. Her big sister Kay, once Gail's best friend, has disappeared into sadness -- and now her shadow has left too. Determined to make things right, Gail chases after the shadows. But her adventures take her to unexpected places and she soon discovers that where there are shadows, there's darkness, and that she's not the only one looking for something missing... In a world of light and shadow, despair and hope sit side by side. Can Gail recover what the sisters have lost? A lyrical, immersive, and luminous tale of sisterhood, The Girl Who Lost Her Shadow tells of bravery, the power of friendship, and being strong enough to ask for help when we really need it. Emily Ilett, winner of the 2017 Kelpies Prize, is an arresting, vital new voice in children's literature.

Review
This book is littered with descriptive phrases that really paint a picture of a wonderful setting. For me, I thought there was a bit much and I felt that the author was perhaps trying too hard. Don't get me wrong, the similes and other literary descriptive devices the author used gave a beautiful lyricism but I just felt that some of it got in the way of the story. 

This is about Gail who, with her sister Kay, have a deep love for nature, especially sea creatures. This is what bonds them. They are extremely lucky to live near to the sea with cliffs, caves and rock pools, full of creatures and fish to learn about. They explore to their hearts content and then draw and research at home, becoming proficient little experts in their field.

Running alongside this backstory is the sadness of how a newly split family can deeply upset the children in the home. The older sister Kay, falls into a depression when their father leaves the family home. At the same time her shadow disappears. Gail feels responsible for the shadow going, so sets off on her quest to find it and bring it back in the hope that it will also bring Kay back to her former self.

There are many twists and turns along the way, with maps, clues, mysterious people, storms and an eerie, yet magical adventure. 

I thought the portrayal of depression in children was covered well and could be quite an eye opener for adults reading this should they have been in a similar parental position and not quite realised the effect this can have on the children, let alone themselves. Mum is having to work extra hard to bring the money in, and keep going for the children's sake as well as dealing with her own emotions straight after her husband has left her. Whilst she acknowledges that Kay is feeling low, to the detriment of Gail, she doesn't fully understand the toll it has taken on her, or how much Gail is being left out. I'm sure there would also be some readers who could easily identify with either mum, Kay or Gail.

Overall this is a lovely book that covers a sensitive issue that perhaps not many others would like to write about. Don't think that from what I've said it is all doom and gloom though. Far from it! We follow Gail's adventurous quest to find Kay's shadow and see just how much of a devoted sister she is.

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐


Keep reading,

Allison x