The Girl Who Lost Her Shadow

Starred review from December 1, 2019
A girl struggles to find her sister's lost shadow, and her own, in this debut. On the morning of Gail's 12th birthday, her shadow leaves her, rippling away outdoors. Gail isn't particularly concerned--between her father's leaving two months ago and her older sister's subsequent depression, she has bigger things to worry about. But when Kay's shadow disappears, too, Gail sets out in pursuit of it over the remote, forsaken end of the Scottish island where she lives. Gail's afraid to swim without Kay--more than that, she can't be herself with Kay. And Kay can't be herself without her shadow. Following the shadow into a vast mazelike cave, she meets chatterbox Mhirran and menacing Francis, a pair of siblings also hunting shadows; a gang of mussel poachers; a wildcat and whales; and the living embodiments of storms. Fluent and sophisticated storytelling combines with precise sensory detail and a tangible sense of place; characters both human and non- are real, multidimensional, and sympathetic. Even the shadows of petrels and the rocks themselves come to life. Ilett blends magic and reality so deftly that one can be mistaken for the other; both have a sharp, briny tang of the sea. Gail's ultimate triumph feels real and hard-earned. Gail, Kay, and their mum have brown skin; Gaelic-speaking Mhirran and Francis are pale. Fantastic in both senses of the word. (Fantasy. 8-14)

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January 10, 2020

Gr 4-7-When Gail's shadow disappears, she's more surprised than concerned-until her sister's shadow disappears, too. Gail is determined to find Kay's shadow, convinced that if she does, Kay will return to her old self instead of the sad, tired person she's become since their dad left. But there are plenty of places for shadows to hide on their Scottish island, and not everyone is friendly to a lost one. This story is a delight, a quest that focuses on character while expertly handling multiple plot threads and providing a strong sense of place. Gail believes she is searching for a shadow, but her real lesson is finding her independence instead of relying on her beloved sister. Subplots focusing on protecting the island's marine life work with Ilett's creative language to craft a vivid, wild setting that mirrors the magical realism of the story. VERDICT Ilett's debut is full of feeling: the comfort of a folktale, the dazzle of the magical, and the trials and triumphs of life. Gail is a true heroine, and the world of children's literature is lucky to have her.-Kristin Brynsvold, Tuckahoe Elementary School, Arlington, VA

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