Winner of the Minnesota Book Award, author Alison McGhee pens tales shimmering with shrewd truth and wild imaginings. In this moving novel, she tells of the growing friendship between two oddly matched people as they share their very different world. With a missing father, sister, and grandfather--and a mother who refuses to explain--11-year-old Clara lives with many questions. When she begins interviewing an elderly immigrant for a school biography assignmnent, she learns he too has a shadowy past. Attempting to fill in gaps, Clara invents version upon version of stories for both her new friend and herself. As the tales evolve, she uncovers some unsettling family history, but most importantly, she begins to discover what matters most in life. Filled with small surprises, Shadow Baby is at turns funny, poignant, and heartwarming. Narrator Christina Moore provides the perfect voice for the young heroine who is wise beyond her years, but in many ways still a child.
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"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."
— marg (4 out of 5 stars)
" Engaging but didn't really go anywhere... Glad it was a short read. "
— Nicole, 2/14/2014" Impossible to read. This book got you know where in the first 3/4 so I couldn't even finish it "
— Jonnelle, 2/9/2014" Slow going. I kept reading to see if anything eventful would happen.......it didn't. "
— Angel, 1/30/2014" I LOVED this book the story of Clara winters was fascinating and kept me reading! While she did not speak like an 11 year old would, this was not a concern with her wit and clever ideas - her discussion on language was adorable and her friendship with the old man was beautiful. I live her reason for not writing book reports, she would hate my review! "
— Jessica, 1/28/2014" The main character is a 11 yrs old girl who can be pretty annoying. The book bugged me in the beginning as it was one made up story right after another about her birth and the life of her friend, the old man. I kept reading it because it's our book-club book this month. By the end though, I enjoyed how it all came together. It kept me turning pages. "
— Keri, 1/26/2014" Her fake book reports are priceless "
— Karol, 1/15/2014" This is a wonderful book. The prose is beautiful, the story honest. It is the work of a writer. "
— Daniel, 1/15/2014" This was a refreshing style of writing, I really enjoyed this departure from adulthood back to the adventure of seeing the world through an 11 year old's eyes. "
— Emily, 1/6/2014" Weird. I'm not sure what I was supposed to take away from this odd little number. "
— Denise, 1/6/2014" The author doesn't insult our intelligence by spelling out every character's emotions, but shows us the depth of that emotion instead. She also shows us the strength humans are capable of, despite life's inevitable sorrows. "
— Nancy, 12/26/2013" Excellent first person....child's perspective of her life and what is going on around her. Excellent development of a relationsionship between elderly man and child. Reinforced for me the importance of generational interactions. "
— Denise, 12/25/2013" Weird. I don't know what I was supposed to take away from this little number. "
— Denise, 12/23/2013" 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. "
— Cheri, 12/16/2013" A very different book. I liked it, though I don't know why. Intriguing. I'm curious to read the others by this author. I've heard that she has books that deal with the same characters in this book but told through their eyes. "
— Lori, 12/5/2013" Good Night! I hated this book! The little girl, the narrator was so annoying! "
— Rachael, 11/28/2013" Readers of _The Secret Life of Bees_ may like this one. "
— Sara, 11/17/2013" Such a wonderful narrator. Clara is 11 - 12 years old and interviews an old man for her school project and learns about herself and mysteries surrounding her own life. She fabricates stories and creates other lives (made up lives)for people she knows. I just love this book! "
— Kelly, 7/3/2013" I saw Alison McGhee speak at the Book Blast at the Open Book Center in Minneaplis last month. This book had a sparse feel to it but the emotions rang very true. "
— Sue, 5/28/2013" I was annoyed by Clara winter as often as I was charmed by her. "
— Lisa, 1/21/2013" Teenage read. "
— Lindsay, 11/16/2012" was an okay book but it took me forever to get through it. "
— Amanda, 10/19/2012" Too boring....didn't care for the main character. "
— Marcia, 8/9/2012" Sounded good, not good. "
— Angie, 7/30/2012" An eleven year old girl who loves words, language, reading and stories but she doesn't know her own story. She narrates but you are never sure...is this the true story or a devised story? "
— Carol, 2/24/2012" This book had some nicely written parts, but overall it felt like it was trying too hard and I didn't really believe Clara as an 11-year-old girl or even like her that much. "
— Melissa, 2/13/2012" I love the girl who narrates this story. This author writes beautiful stories that make me cry. "
— Denidevine, 12/15/2011" Clara Winter is a marvelous character, a self-described word-person who attracts words such as ingenuous, immerse, and veritable. This unique youngster confronts tragedy head on with resilience and determination. The book exudes hope without explicitly mentioning it. "
— Terry, 7/13/2011" okay - she is a lovely writer whose "rainlight" was one of my favorite books. this is a well done story of a pretty cool young female character. but it just didn't knock me out. "
— Elizabethjardine, 5/29/2011" 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! "
— Ruthie, 5/28/2011" About a young girl's friendship with an elderly neighbor. She's obsessed by reading and stories and is very likable. Nice.<br/> "
— Lizzie, 3/29/2011" Weird. I don't know what I was supposed to take away from this little number. "
— Denise, 1/8/2011" Weird. I'm not sure what I was supposed to take away from this odd little number. "
— Denise, 12/30/2010" This has to be the most irritating book I have ever read. "
— Hannah, 11/5/2010" The author doesn't insult our intelligence by spelling out every character's emotions, but shows us the depth of that emotion instead. She also shows us the strength humans are capable of, despite life's inevitable sorrows. "
— Nancy, 7/13/2010" On Goodreads, people either loved or hated this book. It's written from the point of view of an 11-year old who tends to make up stories, so you can get confused. But the relationship she has with an older neighbor is interesting. Worth a try. "
— Michelle, 6/27/2010" I listened to the audio version of this book and loved it. The reader was very talented and had the perfect soft voice for this story. The story was poignant and touching, kind of bittersweet. "Read" it about ten years ago. "
— Pat, 5/26/2010" I loved this book...it is a very quick read. Very sad a times, but you will fall in love with young Clare...she creates such a vivid character and she is so clever, it will make you smile...at times I laughed out loud. (and silently cried, also) "
— Kris, 4/14/2010" 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. "
— Cheri, 4/13/2010" Picked this up on the cheap, couldn't put it down! Ms. McGhee really gets inside the mind and heart of a precocious 11-year old trying to figure out the mysteries of life, love, family, and her personal history. "
— Beth, 4/5/2010" I saw Alison McGhee speak at the Book Blast at the Open Book Center in Minneaplis last month. This book had a sparse feel to it but the emotions rang very true. "
— Sue, 3/27/2010" Good Night! I hated this book! The little girl, the narrator was so annoying! "
— Rachael, 10/15/2009Alison McGhee is an acclaimed author. She writes for all ages and in all forms, from poetry and stories to novels, picture books, and essays, and her books are popular with critics and readers alike. Her novel Shadow Baby was a Today Show Book Club pick, and her picture book Someday was featured on NPR.
Christina Moore is an actress and Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator. As an actress, she is best known for her roles in the television series That ’70s Show, Hawthorne, and 90210. She is a founding member of Bitches Funny, an all-female sketch group that has performed in New York City and Los Angeles.