The Girl Who Lost Her Shadow, By Emily Ilett, Published by Kelpies
IN a book based around magic there always has to be something more, something that makes the connection to real life and to the experiences of readers. In many books this is perhaps the way characters interact with each other, or little details that make the story seem more human, but The Girl Who Lost Her Shadow goes further in the best way.
More than anything the magical side to this story is elevated by Ilett’s whimsical style of writing, allowing the true focus to be on that humanity that in other such books one would have to look to find. This is a story that at its core is really about knowing who you are – and holding on to that, familial relationships and the true and devastating impact of depression on both those affected and those around them.
On the day of Gail’s 12th birthday nothing feels as it should, so much of what she was sure of has crumbled around her. After her dad walked out on the family her older sister Kay can’t bring herself to get out of bed and Gail can never seem to decide whether she’s angry at her. She wants things to go back to the way they used to be, with the two of them swimming and exploring the beach together, dreaming of being marine biologists.
She used to rely on her older sister for everything. So long as they’re together, with her sister supporting her and sharing their thoughts and hopes all was well but now Gail is alone and doesn’t know how to be.
It is because of this that she isn’t all that surprised when, on the morning of her birthday, her shadow leaves her and disappears and, following an argument, so does Kay’s.
Gail immediately feels guilty and sets out to search for their shadows, not sure where to look, how long it will take and what she’ll encounter on the way but hopeful that once she finds them all will go back to normal.
On her journey she ventures into a cave so dark and with so many winding tunnels leading in different directions that most people don’t dare enter and it is there that she meets Mhirran. Mhirran’s brother Francis collects lost shadows and though she can’t do anything to stop him she tries to help Gail on her quest.
Upon learning the reason a shadow leaves, Gail must face more than a vague hunt, she must face the truth of what is happening and grow as a character. Shadows only disappear when the person they belong to is starting to disappear too, when they no longer know themselves and this rings painfully true for both Kay and Gail.
Kay loses herself every day to her depression, unable to care anymore for what she is passionate about or even her younger sister who’s drowning without her. Unable to rely on Kay for everything anymore Gail must learn how to be on her own, and learn who she is without someone always there to support her.
The lessons in this book are incredibly valuable for young people on the reality of mental illness and the temporary state of losing yourself.
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