Out of Shadows

"A unanimous winner... A stunning debut novel without a false note. Accomplished and powerful, it changes the way you think."

Zimbabwe, 1980s . . .

The war is over, independence has been won and Robert Mugabe has come to power offering hope, land and freedom to black Africans. It is the end of the Old Way and the start of a promising new era.

For Robert Jacklin, it's all new: new continent, new country, new school. And very quickly he is forced to understand a new way of thinking, because for some of his classmates the sound of guns is still loud, and their battles rage on . . . White boys who want their old country back, not this new black African government.

Boys like Ivan. Clever, cunning, wicked Ivan.

For him, there is still one last battle to fight, and he's taking it right to the very top.

What people have been saying about Out of Shadows

impossible to look away

Markus Zusak

gripping

The Times

extraordinary. startlingly original

The Bookseller

thought-provoking. . . shocking

Good Book Guide

a children’s classic

Daily Express

rare . . . outstanding

Brown Books for Children

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The inspiration behind Out of Shadows

Watch and listen on YouTube (opens in new window)

Awards

  • Winner 2010

    Winner of the 2010 Costa Book Awards for children’s fiction

  • Winner 2011

    WInner of the Branford Boase Award 2011

  • Winner 2011

    Winner of the 2011 UKLA (UK Literacy Association) Award

"If I stood you in front of a man, pressed the cold metal of a gun into your palm and told you to squeeze the trigger, would you do it?"

"No, Sir."

“Are you sure?”

"Of course, Sir. No ways!"

"What if I then told you we'd gone back in time and his name was Adolf Hitler? Would you do it then? Would you? Would you?"