Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace

This book is on the Carnegie shadowing shortlist 2011.

Out of Shadows is set in Zimbabwe in the 1980’s, in the early years of Mugabe’s reign and black independence. The setting is a privileged white boarding school, which is being forced to come to terms with the new status of black people in the country. The story is told through the eyes of Robert, who comes to the country (then Rhodesia) from England and initially is extremely unhappy to be there. He befriends the black students, as they, like he are outsiders, but at the same time struggles to be accepted by the dominant group of white students, sons of farmers who are losing land and are full of resentment at the new regime.

Ivan is a bully and his cruelty and the power he has over Robert form the heart of the story. Bullying, loneliness and dysfunctional families are all themes of the book. Robert becomes entrenched in Ivan’s gang and his realisation towards the end of the story at what they are planning to do and his attempts to extricate himself make an exciting ending.

The character of Robert is well drawn and sympathetic. The book evoked a strong sense of sadness in me, as so much cruelty is inflicted on innocent people. I would recommend this book to older students – I couldn’t put it down!