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40th out of 45 books
—
170 voters
Shadow Baby
Eleven-year-old Clara is struggling to find the truth about her missing father and grandfather and her dead twin sister, but her mother refuses to talk. When Clara begins interviewing Georg Kominsky--her elderly neighbor--she finds that he is equally reticent about his own concealed history. Precocious and imaginative, Clara invents versions of Mr. Kominsky’s past, just as
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Paperback, 256 pages
Published
July 6th 2001
by Picador
(first published 2000)
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#1. I suck at writing reviews of. . . anything and this is my first review of a book on here.
Shadow Baby is not long, but it took me longer to read than almost any book I've ever read. The book is narrated by Clara Winter, a girl of 11 or so. Frankly, it was hard reading a naive girls account of self exploration. She is an unreliable narrator and she knows it. It was hard for me to force my way through her multiple fictitious realities, her diatribes on why she likes certain words, and the crux...more
Shadow Baby is not long, but it took me longer to read than almost any book I've ever read. The book is narrated by Clara Winter, a girl of 11 or so. Frankly, it was hard reading a naive girls account of self exploration. She is an unreliable narrator and she knows it. It was hard for me to force my way through her multiple fictitious realities, her diatribes on why she likes certain words, and the crux...more
Did I mention that I cried. I was reading it while waiting at the beauty salon and continued while sitting in the hairdresser's chair, all the time crying. I stopped reading, so my tear ducts had a chance to dry a little, but I couldn't wait long enough. The moment I started reading again, tears were just streaming down my face. The shampoo girl finally gave me another towel and I finished the book, covered with tears. So if you need a good cry and you are either in place where no one can see yo...more
Shadow Baby is one of those books that you kind of have to be in the mood to read, I think.
But there is no way to really tell beforehand if you are in the mood for it, if all you have to go by is the description on the back.
It has a very somber feel to it. It takes place in a town called Sterns, New York where Clara winter (yes, she spells her last name with a lowercase w) lives with her mother. The town is very rundown and poor. Many people live in broken down trailers and drive rust mobiles....more
But there is no way to really tell beforehand if you are in the mood for it, if all you have to go by is the description on the back.
It has a very somber feel to it. It takes place in a town called Sterns, New York where Clara winter (yes, she spells her last name with a lowercase w) lives with her mother. The town is very rundown and poor. Many people live in broken down trailers and drive rust mobiles....more
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Once you are able to suspend disbelief—that an 11-year old could be quite as precocious as Clara—this is an engaging story. Clara’s main goal is to discover who her father and grandfather are and why her twin sister died at birth. Her mother Tamar won’t answer these questions. As a consequence, Clara, a born storyteller, invents tales to satisfy her imagination; that her grandfather is a hermit in the Appalachian woods for instance. Much of Clara’s tales stem from her reading of such stories as...more
I liked this book very much. I usually do enjoy books written in the voice of a child (and/or juvenile), I just can't help myself.
This book was particularly well written, this child (Clara, 11 years old) reminded me of my own child (Cleveland, 8 years old) although some of the things about her were hard to believe (do 11 year old's really think and talk in such adult terms?) Some do.
Throughout the book, the reader is kept going and curious about the "missing" information concerning family and c...more
This book was particularly well written, this child (Clara, 11 years old) reminded me of my own child (Cleveland, 8 years old) although some of the things about her were hard to believe (do 11 year old's really think and talk in such adult terms?) Some do.
Throughout the book, the reader is kept going and curious about the "missing" information concerning family and c...more
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On a whim, I picked up this book at a library book sale. Not my usual choice in books so I was leary when I started it, and even more so when I read what other's thought of it. After a few chapters in I was hooked. I loved the main character Clare winter. Clare, an eleven-year-old way beyond her years was a breath of fresh air. I know there were others who felt the character was not a believable child character, however I found it to be quite refreshing and reminicent of characters in earlier li...more
I didn't like this book. I found it kinda hard to read. Not in the material was over my head, or that there were a lot of words that I didn't understand, but in the fact the way the main character Clara winter narrates her story. It was difficult to know what was real and what was something that she made up. But on the other hand, Clara is only 11 years old. And a lot of the time, at that age, kids will make up things in their mind to explain something. And that I completely understand.
Clara liv...more
Clara liv...more
I wish I hadn't waited so long to read this - I got this at a used book store and stuck it on my shelf for years. Pulled it down the other day and read it in a day and a half. This story brought tears to my eyes - it was just a tender, beautiful book about a young, eccentric, smart girl with a fantastic imagination and a yearning for her dead twin and her relationship with an old quiet, kind, reclusive immigrant. A tragic story that pulls at the heart. It is going back on my shelf where all the...more
Started this morning but had to head for work. It's time for some gender balance in my list, which tends to be male author heavy. Seems interesting so far but I'm a bit concerned after looking at some Goodreads reviews. Have any guys read this book???
Done now after another one-night read. This will be my first pre-composed review. I don't know if I'll keep doing it or go back to improvisation with notes. I took a night off from books last night for this and other stuff including a great story i...more
Done now after another one-night read. This will be my first pre-composed review. I don't know if I'll keep doing it or go back to improvisation with notes. I took a night off from books last night for this and other stuff including a great story i...more
Loss, guilt and regret are conquered and transformed in this poignant tale of family history regained. Events of her past year are narrated by 12 1/2-year-old Clara winter, who spells her surname with a lowercase "w" as "a rejection of winter, an acknowledgment of what winter really is and how it can kill." Though Clara's mother, Tamar, never speaks about the past, refusing even to name the father and grandfather Clara has never met, Clara knows she was born in a blizzard that probably killed he...more
This book is such a gem. Although written for adults, the narrator is a precocious 11-year-old girl, who reminded me of my favorite childhood book heroines (Anne Shirley, Ramona Quimby). She forms a friendship with an elderly man, while also attempting to get details from her mother about events surrounding her birth. Ultimately both sad and sweet, Clara winter (she doesn't like winter enough to capitalize it) will stick with you long after you're done reading.
Shadow Baby introduces the dichotomy of the selfishness of youth with the selflessness of age and the loss of innocence that comes with the moment that self absorption evolves into awed appreciation. The dialogue is witty, but can also sometimes be heartbreaking. The story is layered and interesting. Reading this book encouraged me to appreciate people in new ways and any time a book helps shape me into a better person, I consider it remarkable.
I really enjoyed this book. I found the narrator so interesting. I know some reviewers on goodreads have complained about her fictitious stories that were wound throughout the real story. It makes sense considering she was only 12. I found her imagination endearing and her obsession with being a reader and loving words fascinating. I really was touched by the relationship she had with different adults and how it affected her view of her life.
This is pretty quick read about an eleven-year-old girl, Clara, who loves language and makes up fake book reports for school because she can't stand to condense a book. Clara also invents stories about her father she's never met, her absent twin sister, and the elderly Georg Kominsky, who she interviews for school. There is much more to disclose, but I won't give anything away. I loved this book and highly recommend
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The eleven-year-old narrator was fascinating and very endearing. And though the story itself was quite sad, the manner in which it is told was surprisingly fresh and full of beauty. I really enjoyed Clara's relationship with books, as well as her relationship with the truth. It was a sweet, sad story and one that makes me want to read another book by this author.
An eleven-year-old girl befriends an old man and you discover that they both have pieces missing from their past. Clara makes up stories to fill in the spaces in her life as well as the old man's. I can't believe an 11 year old would have the vocabulary that she does, but its a good read. You don't quite get enough of the answers, but you learn more about both Clara and Georg Kominsky.
I have enjoyed reading this book - more than once! I was drawn to Clara - such a precocious and endearing girl. I liked the suspense underlying the story and her relationship with the elderly man. I like character driven stories.
I have met the author and attended several readings and one workshop with her - a Minnesota author. I think she may have thought I was stalking her!
I have met the author and attended several readings and one workshop with her - a Minnesota author. I think she may have thought I was stalking her!
So good. A mother's love for a daughter born of rape; having been put out by her father and whose mother died the year she gave birth and the relationship between the two.
I was very happy and satisfied. You never really know another person. An old man and an 11 year old girl who loves words and makes up stories to explain her life. What she learns being his friend.
I was very happy and satisfied. You never really know another person. An old man and an 11 year old girl who loves words and makes up stories to explain her life. What she learns being his friend.
This was fabulous - beautifully written, very likable narrator, a smart book with a nice message - I would recommend for teens but can def be enjoyed by adults - about a girl who interviews a random old man for a project and the lessons she learns - sounds trite but was actually very fresh. Khaya, a good one for Yael, am thinking of giving it to my students.
Worst title ever. I am practically embarrassed to tell people the title. Every time I did, I'd have to give a disclaimer that it's way better than it sounds.
It's an excellent book. Very well written. I love Clara, the protagonist. Clara from this book and Oskar from "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" should get married. Clara is funny, sweet, heartbreaking and brilliant.
So well done.
It's an excellent book. Very well written. I love Clara, the protagonist. Clara from this book and Oskar from "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" should get married. Clara is funny, sweet, heartbreaking and brilliant.
So well done.
11 year old girl living with single parent mother develops a relationship with an elderly man living in a trailer park.
Lovely, fetching book. Book group attendees loved it, as did I. Wonderful use of language and definition of character. We'd love to invite McGhee to attend our book group meeting, are you out there, Alison?
Lovely, fetching book. Book group attendees loved it, as did I. Wonderful use of language and definition of character. We'd love to invite McGhee to attend our book group meeting, are you out there, Alison?
Is it better to know the truth or imagine the truth? That's Clara's dilema in this book. She is a precocious 11 year old, with a million questions about her past. I think the book does a pretty good job of answering most of them. I would recommend this book for a quick, interesting read.
The main character is a smart and brave 11 year old girl, someone I wouldn't have minded being like at that age. She establishes a friendship with an old man in her town and tells his story as well as her own, and many other stories as well. I particularly loved her book reports.
People either love or hate this book. I loved it. loved the writing, loved all the odd, quirky characters, loved their stories. Even loved the "unreliable narrator" which I usually hate. I interesting to see what "other people who read this book also read..." Quick read!
i read this book in two sittings. it's very easy to read. and i'm not sure i really liked it. i mean, it was well written, the story was cute. characters pretty likable, i guess.
the main character, i know, i know, was supposed to be this 11 year old girl who admittedly "didn't talk like any other 11 year old." she's wise beyond her years, and all that crap. but i didn't really believe it. no 11 year old would, or could, for that matter, speak like she did. and it made the book a bit unbelievabl...more
the main character, i know, i know, was supposed to be this 11 year old girl who admittedly "didn't talk like any other 11 year old." she's wise beyond her years, and all that crap. but i didn't really believe it. no 11 year old would, or could, for that matter, speak like she did. and it made the book a bit unbelievabl...more
This book appealed to me on several levels...the mystery of the two main characters backgrounds and that it took place in the Adirondacks where I was born.
The writing was a bit choppy and hard to follow at times but it was a bittersweet story that I enjoyed.
The writing was a bit choppy and hard to follow at times but it was a bittersweet story that I enjoyed.
Yet another random find in my community's house... but a good one. Clara's narration reminds me so much of a more-morbid version of myself as a kiddo... right down to the obsession with Laura Ingalls Wilder. Definitely added a little bias. But still.
Good book---such excellent writing, and the main character's voice was so compelling. Yes, another narrative from a precocious 11-year-old. But this story kind of blew me out of the water. Clara winter (she insists on a lowercase pronunciation of her last name) lives with her single mother and makes friends with Georg (NOT "George" she reminds people. He's an immigrant and his name is Georg), an elderly man who is a tinsmith living in a trailer home. She befriends him ostensibly to interview him...more
I didn't like this book at all. The writing style was odd and because of how the girl makes up stories you never knew if what you were reading was real or not. It made you not care about any of the charactres because it was probably not true.
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Alison McGhee is the award-winning author of picture books, poems, and novels for all ages, including the young adult novel ALL RIVERS FLOW TO THE SEA and the #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestseller SOMEDAY, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Alison McGhee lives in Minnesota.
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