Shadow — Michael Morpurgo • Ages 9+

Shadow — Book Summary

SummaryCharactersThemesVocabularyReading GuideTeaching Resource
⚠ Contains spoilers.

Overview

Shadow (2010) tells the story of Aman, an Afghan boy, and his beloved dog Shadow — a springer spaniel he bonds with in Afghanistan. The novel interweaves Aman's harrowing journey as a refugee with the story of an English boy, Matt, and his grandfather.

Aman's Story

Aman escapes Afghanistan with his mother after his father is killed. Shadow the dog accompanies them on their dangerous journey across the mountains. Shadow disappears during the journey, and Aman and his mother are separated. Aman ends up in the UK as an asylum seeker.

Matt and Grandpa

An English boy, Matt, discovers Aman's story through his grandfather, a veteran of the Afghan conflict who brings Shadow back to the UK. The two narratives converge when Shadow and Aman are finally reunited.

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