Out of Shadows facts for kids
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| Author | Jason Wallace |
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| Audio read by | Ben Onwukwe |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Set in | Zimbabwe in the 1980s |
| Publisher | Andersen Press |
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Publication date
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28 January 2010 |
| Media type | Print (paperback), e-book, audiobook |
| Pages | 288 |
| Awards | 2010 Costa Book Award 2011 Branford Boase Award 2011 UKLA Book Award |
| ISBN | 978-1-84939-048-4 |
| OCLC | 768655861 |
| [Fic] | |
| LC Class | PZ7.W15655 Out 2010 |
Out of Shadows is an exciting historical novel for young readers. It was written by Jason Wallace and came out in 2010. The story takes place in Zimbabwe during the 1980s. It follows a white teenager named Robert Jacklin. He attends a fancy boarding school. Robert faces tough challenges like bullying and racism. He also learns about right and wrong. The country itself is going through big changes. This book was inspired by Wallace's own time at a boarding school in Zimbabwe. It even won several awards, like the 2010 Costa Book Award for Children's Book.
Contents
About the Book: Out of Shadows
Out of Shadows took about one and a half years to write. Author Jason Wallace went to a boarding school in Zimbabwe himself. This was shortly after a big conflict called the Rhodesian Bush War ended. He wanted to write about what he saw and felt there.
Inspiration for the Story
The political situation in Zimbabwe was difficult and changing. This inspired Wallace to create fictional stories. He used characters to show the attitudes of some people at that time. Wallace said he started by asking "What if...?" and built the story from there. Many parts of the novel are similar to Wallace's real life. However, these are general ideas, not specific events.
Story Summary: What Happens in Out of Shadows
The story begins in 1983. Thirteen-year-old Robert Jacklin arrives at Haven School. This is an elite boys' boarding school in Zimbabwe. Robert has come all the way from England. His father works for the British Embassy.
Robert's New Friends and Challenges
Robert quickly becomes friends with Nelson Ndube. Nelson is one of the few black students at the school. But Robert soon tries to fit in with the white students. He wants to feel safe and accepted. Many of these white students are bullies. They are also racist, especially a boy named Ivan Hascott. They are still angry that the white minority lost power. The country's black majority took over after a recent civil war.
Facing Difficult Choices
Robert struggles with his own feelings. He gets drawn into the white students' way of thinking. Ivan's family has suffered because of Robert Mugabe's rise to power. Ivan pushes Robert to join his plan for revenge. This revenge is aimed at black Africans. Robert becomes very worried by Ivan's actions. Ivan's behavior gets more and more violent.
Awards and Recognition for Out of Shadows
Out of Shadows was first published in the United Kingdom. It was released by Andersen Press on January 28, 2010. Before this, many publishers said no to the book. In fact, one hundred different literary agents and publishers rejected it. But then Andersen Press decided to publish it.
Major Awards Won
The novel received many positive reviews. It also won several important awards:
- 2010 Costa Book Award for Children's Book (winner)
- 2011 Branford Boase Award (winner)
- 2011 UKLA Book Award (winner)
Other Notable Shortlists
Out of Shadows was also recognized as a finalist for other awards:
- 2010 Booktrust Teenage Prize (shortlist)
- 2011 Carnegie Medal (shortlist)
