The Boy Who Cast No Shadow (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
A boy named Look has skin that does not cast a shadow. As a result, he cannot be photographed or seen in mirrors. Look befriends a boy named Splinter who is made of glass—glass that acts as a mirror. Being made of glass, Splinter’s body is extremely fragile and his parents go to extremes to protect him from harm, but this also shields him from being able to experience most of the joys and sorrows of living. Look helps Splinter run away from home and helps him find happiness. This loose retelling of the Pinocchio fable is a touching exploration of friendship and love. This short fantasy story is nominated for the Hugo Awards 2013, so I was curious what it was about. You can download it for free from the publisher's website.The story is about a boy without a shadow, who meets a boy made of glass. The story starts very slow and I found the language in the first part very jarring. Perhaps it also has to do with it's translation from Dutch to English, I don't know. The last part (from page 20 onwards) finally got me engaged and I thought that part was moving. Unfortunately, the story is only 32 pages long, so for the first 20 pages to be not interesting isn't good.
What do You think about The Boy Who Cast No Shadow (2009)?
Well written story about acceptance, being different, a kind of metaphor for adolescence.
—GMPL
It's amazing to read about the friendship between Smoel and Splinter
—ONREAD
Interesting concept and gripping voice, but.
—ashkat
