Customer Reviews
Strange book 
2008-05-31
I am not sure how to rate this book. It was very bizzare. I did like the references to the Utica area. This made it a little more interesting for me. This book comes from a perspective of a young teenage girl and at times is a little hard to follow. Although it was weird, it was a good read.
Beautifully written--provoked me to both laughter and tears 
2008-01-08
This book captivated me almost immediately and I devoured it in one sitting. I found the author's development of Clara's quirky personality to be realistic and amusing, as she reminded me greatly of myself at that age--a voracious reader, imaginative storyteller, perceptive thinker, and lover-of-language.
I loved how Clara's imagination ran away with her to the point of her being unable to recall what was truth and what she had fabricated or embellished. While my childhood imaginations were usually confined to my daydreams, the pages of my "story notebook", and play with my sister and friends, Clara's stories spilled over into her daily interactions with adults. I can empathize with her need for every difficult, sad, or confusing situation in life to have a plot, a climax, a conclusion, and maybe a moral or a reason. Children's books usually end nicely, or at least decisively, and Clara longed for that kind of clarity for her own life. In many ways, Clara seemed to live in and through her books much more than she lived in the real world. I often felt isolated from my peers when I was Clara's age and spent the majority of my free time reading, writing stories, or seeking the company and fascinating reminisces of the adults around me. My classmates teased me because of my vocabulary and asked "What do you do, read the dictionary for fun?" I proudly affirmed this fact. I think Clara would be a great friend for me if either of us could cross into the other's world.
One of my favorite books this year 2007-12-31
SHADOW BABY by Alison McGhee
December 31, 2007
Rating **** (4 Stars)
A wonderful story from the viewpoint of an eleven-year-old girl, SHADOW BABY tells the tale of a friendship between Clara winter (small W intentional) and the elderly Georg Kominsky (without an "E"). The two become friends after Clara chooses to use him as her subject in an essay she has to write for school. But after the assignment is over, she continues to see him, with regular meetings starting with Clara being dropped off by her mother. Clara spends time with Georg while he creates beautiful artwork out of metal.
The story telling is the key to this book. The reader will notice a little at a time that Clara's truth and reality are not the same as the rest of the world's. It is clear that Clara's gift is that of a storyteller and writer. Part of what makes her tick is her need to understand what happened on the day she was born, a very cold and blustery night when something tragic happened, and while this event is hardly ever mentioned by her mother, Clara focuses on it every day to her mother's frustration. Clara soon makes up stories about this event, and the reader will not be sure what is real and what is the imaginings of this very creative young girl.
Readers will love the focal point, Clara's special friendship with Georg. Through her eyes we learn about his past, and again we aren't even sure at first what is real and what is made up. For me, SHADOW BABY was a very enjoyable story about a young girl who has a lot of questions about her humble beginnings, and will not rest until she gets some answers. At the same time, Clara grows up and matures under the tutelage of Georg Kominsky. The two share a very special friendship, one that we know will be treasured by Clara for the rest of her days.
Disappointing 
2007-10-02
I am stubborn, and read on, always hoping a book will get better. Often, they do. This one just plodded on.
I like quirky books, quirky characters...I did not like this book.
The characters, especially the main character, was just annoying.
This was the first and most likely last time I will purchase a Today show book club book. I will take is as a warning to keep away!
move over Holden Caulfield! 2007-09-05
Written in the voice of 11 year old Clara winter (with a small "w"), this is the story of one girl's struggle to uncover the secrets of her family. Who is her father? Where is her grandfather? Did she really have a sister? If so, what happened to her? Clara's mother refuses to discuss anything that really matters to Clara, so the young girl is forced to look elsewhere, and in so doing befriends an old man who has some secrets of his own. No spoilers here. McGhee's a master story-teller, and the secrets of Clara's life unfold bit by bit. This story's got heart, texture, life. I absolutely loved it.
Alison McGhee's one author to watch.
An Odd But Moving Story 
2007-07-27
Eleven-year-old Clara is struggling to find the truth about her missing father and grandfather and her dead twin sister, but her mother refuses to talk. When Clara begins interviewing Georg Kominsky--her elderly neighbor--she finds that he is equally reticent about his own concealed history. Precocious and imaginative, Clara invents versions of Mr. Kominsky’s past, just as she invents lives for the people missing from her own shadowy history. Her journey of discovery is at the heart of this beautiful story about unlikely friendship and communion, about discovering what matters most in life, and about the search to find the missing pieces of ourselves.
Shadow 2007-07-17
For such a short book, it took me a long time to get through it. Although beautifully written, it's a dull story. However, it's basically two stories written in one; and if you can get past the dull part, you'll love Clara's story.
Wonderfully entertaining! I loved it. 2007-06-28
I loved this book. It was wonderfully written and wholly entertaining. I didn't mind that it was narrated by the precocious twelve year old Clara nor that she seemed too adult-like. Her words made me see the story from the perspective of both herself and her mother, like there was really a narrator and a half. There were some sad parts of this story that were somewhat unexpected but which served to keep your interest through the end of the book. McGhee developed very touching insights into the world of each of the characters that made them feel real. She ended this book with a subtle wrap up of all of the plots that made you feel satisfied with its ending. Great book!
A very endearing main character 2007-06-08
Ms. McGhee's young heroine is a bright and lovable little girl. Her journey to the edge of adulthood is a fascinating story, filled with interesting relationships. This is a quick book to read, but a difficult one to forget.
ALISON McGHEE IS AN AWESOME AUTHOR 2007-05-07
Alison McGhee writes wonderful, different books. They are not your average book, don't have an average story line, and do not have average characters. Everything about her writing is above average. If you have not read RAINLIGHT, please do so. Ms. McGhee has other books I can't wait to enjoy!
Meet 11 year old Clara winter, small w please! Little Clara marches to the beat of a different drummer and doesn't mind that anyone knows this. What a child! She is a lover of words, a lover of books, and a very unique little girl.
Clara befriends Mr. Georg Kominsky and chooses him to interview for a school assignment. The two become dear friends; him being to Clara the father/grandfather she never knew and Clara becoming the little grand-daughter that he never had.
Georg and Clara spend time together going through trash looking for treasures, baking, and just generally enjoying each other's company. Clara is obsessed with trying to find out the truth regarding her dad, grandfather, and wants to know facts and information about her twin sister who died at birth during a blizzard.
Clara's mom, Tamar, will not give up any information regarding any of the above. Clara and Tamar live a quiet life in the Adirondack area. Tamar loves her daughter, but I felt she had trouble expressing this. Tamar has many secrets that she keeps from Clara regarding her dad and grandfather and her twin sister. However, Clara YEARNS to know these things about her family. So, to compensate for not receiving this information, Clara imagines and makes up her own stories regarding these people. Are they true? Does Tamar ever give Clara the information she deserves to know about her family? Read the book and find out.
Clara's vocabulary is funny and very adult-like and I found myself laughing at how she said things in her unique little way. She tells a good story. At first I didn't feel as if this book was "moving" or going anywhere when all of a sudden I realized it was moving and going in a very wonderful direction.
This is a good book. Read the tale of a year out of Clara's life and her thoughts, dreams, hopes. She is an odd child, but a child you will come to love. Clara and Georg become "family" and would do anything for the other.
One thing I liked about this book was how Ms. McGhee threw in characters from her first novel, RAINLIGHT. That was a sweet little surprise!!! Read this book, you will be glad that you did.
Thank you!
Pam
