Soo, now, after a very short (!!!) break, Iwill continue with my brilliant weblog and I will work hard and I hope that my weblog is interesting and makes you happy!
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Yours Nico
Introduction
The novel "Shadows" by Tim Bowler deals with a boy, Jamie, and a girl, Abby. Jamie lives in Ashingford, a small town in England and he is good at squash, but it's his father who is determined that he should become a champion like himself in the past. Soon the pressure becomes too much for Jamie.
When he finds Abby hiding in his personal hiding place, he is suddenly confrinted with another person who has been living in the shadows. By helping her, he realizes that he might be able to resolve his own problems at home...
When he finds Abby hiding in his personal hiding place, he is suddenly confrinted with another person who has been living in the shadows. By helping her, he realizes that he might be able to resolve his own problems at home...
Chapter 1-9
Chapter 1
In the first chapter of the book there are many persons who will plays a big role in the book. Jamie plays against his biggest adversary Danny who is trained by his father Bob Powell. First Jamie seems to be the better one, but then Danny wins the match because of better conditions after a 0:2. Jamie’s father is very angry about that and beats him hard.
This reaction of his father shows that he is a very strange father, because
he beats his son just because of a loosing match.
It's very hard for me to put myself in the position of Jamie, because I play football and my father never beats me because of a miserable match, so I can't understand Jamie’s father and I can't understand any parents who beats their kids for a miserable match or something else.
I think the first chapter of the novel introduces the reader very well, so you get much information about the behaviour between the persons.
Chapter 2
The second chapter of the novel deals with other new characters that will play a big role in the following parts.
Jamie comes back home to Ashingford after the match against Danny and has the first contact to two mysterious men who are standing on the street with a very mysterious look. When he is at home his mother tells him that his dad beats him one more time and Jamie is very angry and feels scared about his father. He takes his basketball, plays in his garden and hopes that Spider, his best and only friend, hears him and plays with him. But then he sees one of the two men again standing on the street and looking in the air.
In my opinion the second chapter is very good, because it tells you something more about the relationship between the persons, for example the relationship between Jamie and Spider or Jamie’s father between the rest of the family. Also the two mysterious men will plays a big role in the book and that were shown in the second chapter, too, because the identity of the men is very secret and mysterious.
Chapter 3
The third chapter starts with a dialogue between Jamie and his father in the car, while driving through the school gates. His father tells him his decision to stop Jamie’s pocket money, but Jamie’s doesn't agree with this. Jamie’s father refers his argument that Jamie will understand this decision if he become older, but Jamie disagrees. Then you get the information that Jamie in the past likes to play squash, but the pressure of his father became too big and so he dislikes playing squash, now. It seems to be that Jamie’s father makes him do play squash.
After the discussion Jamie meets Spider and Mr. and Mrs. Dean with Amy and Becky. Jamie tells them his problems and Mr. Dean tries to animate him with a cake and they give him a few advice.
The third chapter shows very well the relationship between Jamie and his dad. I can't understand the decision of the father, because I think if he stops Jamie’s pocket money, Jamie doesn't plays better, but rather he ignores him more and more.
Chapter 4
In the beginning of Chapter 4 Jamie and Spider are in Rossi's Burger Bananza in Ashingford where Spider borrows Jamie money to order something. There Jamie sees the two mysterious men again and he tries to understand what they're talking about, but he can't. Then he comes home and his father blames him to stolen money from his mum, but Jamie doesn't know what his dad is talking about. Jamie’s father beats his hands and so Jamie runs away from home to his personal and secret hiding place. There he lies alone in the darkness and thinks about his life and his dad.
The fourth chapter again shows the very bad relationship between Jamie and his dad, because he blames Jamie for something, he hasn't done. You can see there that his dad doesn't believe in Jamie and so he beats him one more time. Then it's clear that Jamie escapes.
Chapter 5
In Chapter 5 you get the first information about the pregnant girl Abby, who meets Jamie in his personal hiding place.
First Abby doesn't want to say her name to Jamie, only she says that they
should warm the each other with their body, when they want to sleep.
It's because of the cold weather, but Abby adds that she doesn't think about sex or something
else and Jamie thinks the same.
In this chapter Jamie first time meets Abby and he is very wondered about it. I think I would be very wondered about when a new girl is in my personal hiding place, but she is a little bit secret, too, because she doesn't want to tell her name.
Chapter 6
In the morning Jamie wakes up, but Abby is away. After a short time, Jamie becomes hungry and goes to school.
At school no teacher talks about him, because he often fails at school. Jamie tells his German teacher something about him, his dad and his situation at the moment and she consoles him. When Jamie is back in his class, he talks with Spider, but then he has to
go to Mr. Talbot’s office, where they talk about the missing of Jamie. After the talk Mr. Talbot calls Jamie’s dad to picks up him. Jamie’s dad seems to be very angry and says nothing in the office and in the car. At the end of the chapter Jamie sees the two mysterious men again walking to the school gate and thinks about it.
If I were Jamie I think I would react like him, because he is very confused about the two men again and he is always thinks about them.
Chapter 7
On next day Jamie thinks about his life and that he won't be beaten by his father again. He takes his secret book and scribes this:
"One day he won't hit me and I'll have a real relationship with him, like Spider does with his dad. I want him to respect me. I know to love him but I can’t because he won’t let me. I know he was a great squash player, better than I'll ever be. I never saw him play but Mum says he was brilliant, and I've read the reports so he must have been good. And he learnt his squash in Australia and Australia is supposed to breed top squash players, so he keeps telling me. But we don’t live in Australia."
Then he talks with his mum and he finds out that his dad had nothing when he was in his age and that his dad always had to fight for the things he wants to have.
Then, in the evening, he goes back to his shed, but no one is there and so he leaves his blanket and returns back home.
In my opinion this chapter is very important, because you get much information about Jamie’s feelings and the past of the father. Jamie wrote his wishes and hopes in his secret book and you see that he wants to be another person, because he doesn't want a relationship like he has and he hopes that one day he has a good relationship to his father. Also you find out which past his dad has and why he reacts so angry, but I think that he reacts too hard, because he can't blame his son for this.
Chapter 8
First, in chapter 8, Jamie brings some rolls to his shed for the girl, when he is unobserved. Then he talks with his mum, who is very wondered about his new eating habit, but Jamie only says that he's hungry at this time.
On way to school Jamie and Spider meets the two mysterious men and they ask Jamie and his friend, if they see the girl on the photo which they show their. Jamie directly realizes that this girl is the same one like the one in his shed, but he and Spider lie and say that they don't know who she is.
Last his dad brings Jamie to the squash hall to train a little bit, but Jamie isn't concentrates in playing squash, but rather he thinks about the two men.
Jamie realizes in this chapter why the two men are in town and what they are searching for: Abby: I think he feels very scared about this. It's clear that he isn't concentrated in playing squash.
Chapter 9
At the beginning of the ninth chapter the Talbot’s are guests by Jamie’s family and he takes advantage
of the situation and sneaks off to his shed to look at the girl, but there was no girl, just the two men who are looking and searching for something. Jamie feels scared about this and waits a few minutes until the two men leave his shed. Then Jamie goes back to his shed and thinks about what they want. Now he is very afraid and sees a new figure appearing....
I think Jamie knows what the two men want and he feels very afraid, because they know his shed and also they knows where Abby often is.
In the first chapter of the book there are many persons who will plays a big role in the book. Jamie plays against his biggest adversary Danny who is trained by his father Bob Powell. First Jamie seems to be the better one, but then Danny wins the match because of better conditions after a 0:2. Jamie’s father is very angry about that and beats him hard.
This reaction of his father shows that he is a very strange father, because
he beats his son just because of a loosing match.
It's very hard for me to put myself in the position of Jamie, because I play football and my father never beats me because of a miserable match, so I can't understand Jamie’s father and I can't understand any parents who beats their kids for a miserable match or something else.
I think the first chapter of the novel introduces the reader very well, so you get much information about the behaviour between the persons.
Chapter 2
The second chapter of the novel deals with other new characters that will play a big role in the following parts.
Jamie comes back home to Ashingford after the match against Danny and has the first contact to two mysterious men who are standing on the street with a very mysterious look. When he is at home his mother tells him that his dad beats him one more time and Jamie is very angry and feels scared about his father. He takes his basketball, plays in his garden and hopes that Spider, his best and only friend, hears him and plays with him. But then he sees one of the two men again standing on the street and looking in the air.
In my opinion the second chapter is very good, because it tells you something more about the relationship between the persons, for example the relationship between Jamie and Spider or Jamie’s father between the rest of the family. Also the two mysterious men will plays a big role in the book and that were shown in the second chapter, too, because the identity of the men is very secret and mysterious.
Chapter 3
The third chapter starts with a dialogue between Jamie and his father in the car, while driving through the school gates. His father tells him his decision to stop Jamie’s pocket money, but Jamie’s doesn't agree with this. Jamie’s father refers his argument that Jamie will understand this decision if he become older, but Jamie disagrees. Then you get the information that Jamie in the past likes to play squash, but the pressure of his father became too big and so he dislikes playing squash, now. It seems to be that Jamie’s father makes him do play squash.
After the discussion Jamie meets Spider and Mr. and Mrs. Dean with Amy and Becky. Jamie tells them his problems and Mr. Dean tries to animate him with a cake and they give him a few advice.
The third chapter shows very well the relationship between Jamie and his dad. I can't understand the decision of the father, because I think if he stops Jamie’s pocket money, Jamie doesn't plays better, but rather he ignores him more and more.
Chapter 4
In the beginning of Chapter 4 Jamie and Spider are in Rossi's Burger Bananza in Ashingford where Spider borrows Jamie money to order something. There Jamie sees the two mysterious men again and he tries to understand what they're talking about, but he can't. Then he comes home and his father blames him to stolen money from his mum, but Jamie doesn't know what his dad is talking about. Jamie’s father beats his hands and so Jamie runs away from home to his personal and secret hiding place. There he lies alone in the darkness and thinks about his life and his dad.
The fourth chapter again shows the very bad relationship between Jamie and his dad, because he blames Jamie for something, he hasn't done. You can see there that his dad doesn't believe in Jamie and so he beats him one more time. Then it's clear that Jamie escapes.
Chapter 5
In Chapter 5 you get the first information about the pregnant girl Abby, who meets Jamie in his personal hiding place.
First Abby doesn't want to say her name to Jamie, only she says that they
should warm the each other with their body, when they want to sleep.
It's because of the cold weather, but Abby adds that she doesn't think about sex or something
else and Jamie thinks the same.
In this chapter Jamie first time meets Abby and he is very wondered about it. I think I would be very wondered about when a new girl is in my personal hiding place, but she is a little bit secret, too, because she doesn't want to tell her name.
Chapter 6
In the morning Jamie wakes up, but Abby is away. After a short time, Jamie becomes hungry and goes to school.
At school no teacher talks about him, because he often fails at school. Jamie tells his German teacher something about him, his dad and his situation at the moment and she consoles him. When Jamie is back in his class, he talks with Spider, but then he has to
go to Mr. Talbot’s office, where they talk about the missing of Jamie. After the talk Mr. Talbot calls Jamie’s dad to picks up him. Jamie’s dad seems to be very angry and says nothing in the office and in the car. At the end of the chapter Jamie sees the two mysterious men again walking to the school gate and thinks about it.
If I were Jamie I think I would react like him, because he is very confused about the two men again and he is always thinks about them.
Chapter 7
On next day Jamie thinks about his life and that he won't be beaten by his father again. He takes his secret book and scribes this:
"One day he won't hit me and I'll have a real relationship with him, like Spider does with his dad. I want him to respect me. I know to love him but I can’t because he won’t let me. I know he was a great squash player, better than I'll ever be. I never saw him play but Mum says he was brilliant, and I've read the reports so he must have been good. And he learnt his squash in Australia and Australia is supposed to breed top squash players, so he keeps telling me. But we don’t live in Australia."
Then he talks with his mum and he finds out that his dad had nothing when he was in his age and that his dad always had to fight for the things he wants to have.
Then, in the evening, he goes back to his shed, but no one is there and so he leaves his blanket and returns back home.
In my opinion this chapter is very important, because you get much information about Jamie’s feelings and the past of the father. Jamie wrote his wishes and hopes in his secret book and you see that he wants to be another person, because he doesn't want a relationship like he has and he hopes that one day he has a good relationship to his father. Also you find out which past his dad has and why he reacts so angry, but I think that he reacts too hard, because he can't blame his son for this.
Chapter 8
First, in chapter 8, Jamie brings some rolls to his shed for the girl, when he is unobserved. Then he talks with his mum, who is very wondered about his new eating habit, but Jamie only says that he's hungry at this time.
On way to school Jamie and Spider meets the two mysterious men and they ask Jamie and his friend, if they see the girl on the photo which they show their. Jamie directly realizes that this girl is the same one like the one in his shed, but he and Spider lie and say that they don't know who she is.
Last his dad brings Jamie to the squash hall to train a little bit, but Jamie isn't concentrates in playing squash, but rather he thinks about the two men.
Jamie realizes in this chapter why the two men are in town and what they are searching for: Abby: I think he feels very scared about this. It's clear that he isn't concentrated in playing squash.
Chapter 9
At the beginning of the ninth chapter the Talbot’s are guests by Jamie’s family and he takes advantage
of the situation and sneaks off to his shed to look at the girl, but there was no girl, just the two men who are looking and searching for something. Jamie feels scared about this and waits a few minutes until the two men leave his shed. Then Jamie goes back to his shed and thinks about what they want. Now he is very afraid and sees a new figure appearing....
I think Jamie knows what the two men want and he feels very afraid, because they know his shed and also they knows where Abby often is.
Chapter 10-18
Chapter 10
It is the girl who is appearing. Jamie goes to Abby in his shed and meets her again. He brings her some food, like rolls. She thanks Jamie for bringing the rolls, but when Jamie wants to speak with her, she doesn't speaks with him and it seems to be a warning, because she seems to be very irritated, because Jamie is getting on her nerves. I think Abby reacts a little bit to hard, because Jamie just wants to find out something about her life. Abby's reaction shows that she doesn't want to talk about her and her life. The character and the behave of Abby is very secret and the reader wants to know more about her. After the meeting, Jamie is a little bit sad, because Abby don't want to speak with him. I can understand his feelings well, because I would like find out something more about her, too.
Chapter 11
In the beginning of the eleventh chapter, Jamie and his family is sitting at breakfast ad during they talk, Jamie finds out that his mother already was beaten by his father. Jamie’s mother is very confused and forgets a lot of thinks. I think Jamie is very angry about his father, because he already beats his wife. I would be very angry and it would be hard for me to see that my mother always was beaten by my father.
Afterwards Jamie and Spider go to school. At the sports hall, they see the two mysterious men again and
suddenly they ask them if they know where Abby is, but Jamie says that he doesn't know where she is. He feels very desperate, because the two men already asked him if he knows where Abby is. That shows that they know that Abby hast contact with Jamie and that makes him very scared.
Chapter 12
Jamie's father comes to school and picks him up to drive to the fitness-centre. During the drive, his father asks him, if everything is okay in the school and Jamie answers that everything is okay. At the squash-centre Greg, Danny's and Jamie's trainer, wants to start the train with the two boys, but without the parents, because they influence them. Then the telephone rings and Greg goes to pick it up. During Greg telephones wit somebody, the two fathers take advantage of the situation and want to start a battle. Their sons have to ride on the bike and who rides longer on bike, is the winner. So they start this race and Danny wins, because he has the better conditions. Jamie is very exhausted and suddenly he passes out. This scene shows that the fathers of the boys are big adversaries, too, because they use their sons for a battle, although Jamie and Danny don't want it. Actually Jamie's father is very acid, because his son lost. I can't accept these behave against his own son...
Chapter 13
Jamie wakes up in the massage room and Stephanie, an assistant, stands by his side. Then Greg, his trainer, opens the door and talks with Jamie. Greg notices that Jamie hasn't fun at squash anymore and advices him to stop playing squash. Jamie tells Greg his story and tells him something about the
relationship between him and his father. He says that he is under a big pressure...
When Jamie comes home, his father already tells his mother, that Jamie was a little bit exhausted and when Jamie notices that, he wants to clarify the situation, but in this moment his father arrives and his mother goes away, because she feels scared about his husband. Jamie tells his father that he wants to stop playing squash,
because he hasn't fun by playing anymore. His father can't accept this and threats him very hard. Jamie falls down, goes into the kitchen, takes food and goes away to thinking about him and his live.
In my opinion this chapter is very hard, because Jamie's father doesn't accept that his son won't play squash anymore and says to his wife that everything is okay with Jamie, although he passed out, but his father is not interested in this, but father that his son wins every battle against Danny. I think the father uses his son to battles against Bob.
Chapter 14
Jamie and Abby are in the shed and conclude to go to Jamie's school. On the way to his school, a car is arriving and
they hide from the car, because they have an unpleasant feeling. They flee into the squash hall. When the gar drives along the street, they see the two mysterious men sitting in the car. Suddenly the car stops and the men go out. They're looking around and searching for the two kids. Abby and Jamie feel very afraid about
this and don't know what they should do. Then, after the men haven't found the kids, they go in their car and drive away.
After this shock, Jamie and Abby are searching for a new hiding place.
Chapter 15
Abby and Jamie sits in the room of the squash hall and thinking about, what they should do now, but they don't know what they'll do now. Abby tells Jamie that she owes the men money, much money,
several thousand...and that she'll get a baby. Then Abby says that
she knows friends of friends in Cumbria and they should go there, because there they are safely and maybe they can borrow
her the money. Abby says that they have to split after they leave this building, but Jamie wants to go with her. She agrees.
Abby says that hey should go, if the situation out of the hall is safely.
Suddenly, after they dozed, Abby gets her first pains...
After a while they thinks that the situation is safely and they decides to flee, but from the other side of the squash court two figures are racing over the field...
Chapter 16
Abby and Jamie go out of the door and notice that they have to flee fast, because the next time the men could arrive. Abby lift herself into a big bin to hide, but Jamie tries to find
another way to hide. Suddenly the two men catch him and he hasn't a chance to escape.
One of the men asks Jamie for Abby and where she is, but Jamie doesn't say it, but father he makes a proposal:
Jamie will bring them the money and the two men leave Abby alone.
But the two men disagree and beat him very hard. One by one beats hits him until he can't stand anymore. Then one of the men says that he has to bring the several thousand to the meeting-point at the lay-by in 13 hours. Then they leave the fitness-centre and Jamie tries to search Abby in the bin....
But she isn't there...
I think Jamie is very afraid about this, because he doesn't know if the men catched Abby or if she can flew. Jamie is very worry about it...
Chapter 17
In the beginning of chapter 17, Jamie goes to Spider early in the morning and wakes him up.
Spider asks what Jamie is doing there and Jamie answers that he lefts home last night, but he doesn't tell his whole story, because of Abby. He asks Spider to tell nobody something about him. Then Jamie asks Spider to borrow him much money to help a friend who needs this money. Spider agrees and they arrange a meeting point for today for giving the money. Then Spider gives Jamie bit money and some food to buy
something for alive. Afterwards Jamie goes to a mini-market to buy some food and other thinks to alive and goes to the meeting point. Jamie thinks that this is hard to believe to have a friend like Spider and he is very happy about it.
I think this chapter shows the relationship between Spider and Jamie very well. Spider is a very good friend of Jamie and helps him in every situation. It's unbelievable that he borrows Jamie so much money, but this is a sign for a real friendship!
Chapter 18
Spider arrives at the meeting point and gives Jamie the whole money and something to eat. Also he gives him a pencil and a paper to write a farewell letter. During Jamie's father is searching everywhere for his son with
the police and also in the school. They asked Spider, if he know where Jamie is or if he said anything to him, but Spider said that he doesn't know where Jamie is. Jamie tells Spider that he is really happy about Spider and
that he has a best friend like him. I think he should be happy!
Then Jamie takes one's leave of Spider and goes away. Jamie walks to the lay-by and waits for the two men to give them the money and see Abby again.
It is the girl who is appearing. Jamie goes to Abby in his shed and meets her again. He brings her some food, like rolls. She thanks Jamie for bringing the rolls, but when Jamie wants to speak with her, she doesn't speaks with him and it seems to be a warning, because she seems to be very irritated, because Jamie is getting on her nerves. I think Abby reacts a little bit to hard, because Jamie just wants to find out something about her life. Abby's reaction shows that she doesn't want to talk about her and her life. The character and the behave of Abby is very secret and the reader wants to know more about her. After the meeting, Jamie is a little bit sad, because Abby don't want to speak with him. I can understand his feelings well, because I would like find out something more about her, too.
Chapter 11
In the beginning of the eleventh chapter, Jamie and his family is sitting at breakfast ad during they talk, Jamie finds out that his mother already was beaten by his father. Jamie’s mother is very confused and forgets a lot of thinks. I think Jamie is very angry about his father, because he already beats his wife. I would be very angry and it would be hard for me to see that my mother always was beaten by my father.
Afterwards Jamie and Spider go to school. At the sports hall, they see the two mysterious men again and
suddenly they ask them if they know where Abby is, but Jamie says that he doesn't know where she is. He feels very desperate, because the two men already asked him if he knows where Abby is. That shows that they know that Abby hast contact with Jamie and that makes him very scared.
Chapter 12
Jamie's father comes to school and picks him up to drive to the fitness-centre. During the drive, his father asks him, if everything is okay in the school and Jamie answers that everything is okay. At the squash-centre Greg, Danny's and Jamie's trainer, wants to start the train with the two boys, but without the parents, because they influence them. Then the telephone rings and Greg goes to pick it up. During Greg telephones wit somebody, the two fathers take advantage of the situation and want to start a battle. Their sons have to ride on the bike and who rides longer on bike, is the winner. So they start this race and Danny wins, because he has the better conditions. Jamie is very exhausted and suddenly he passes out. This scene shows that the fathers of the boys are big adversaries, too, because they use their sons for a battle, although Jamie and Danny don't want it. Actually Jamie's father is very acid, because his son lost. I can't accept these behave against his own son...
Chapter 13
Jamie wakes up in the massage room and Stephanie, an assistant, stands by his side. Then Greg, his trainer, opens the door and talks with Jamie. Greg notices that Jamie hasn't fun at squash anymore and advices him to stop playing squash. Jamie tells Greg his story and tells him something about the
relationship between him and his father. He says that he is under a big pressure...
When Jamie comes home, his father already tells his mother, that Jamie was a little bit exhausted and when Jamie notices that, he wants to clarify the situation, but in this moment his father arrives and his mother goes away, because she feels scared about his husband. Jamie tells his father that he wants to stop playing squash,
because he hasn't fun by playing anymore. His father can't accept this and threats him very hard. Jamie falls down, goes into the kitchen, takes food and goes away to thinking about him and his live.
In my opinion this chapter is very hard, because Jamie's father doesn't accept that his son won't play squash anymore and says to his wife that everything is okay with Jamie, although he passed out, but his father is not interested in this, but father that his son wins every battle against Danny. I think the father uses his son to battles against Bob.
Chapter 14
Jamie and Abby are in the shed and conclude to go to Jamie's school. On the way to his school, a car is arriving and
they hide from the car, because they have an unpleasant feeling. They flee into the squash hall. When the gar drives along the street, they see the two mysterious men sitting in the car. Suddenly the car stops and the men go out. They're looking around and searching for the two kids. Abby and Jamie feel very afraid about
this and don't know what they should do. Then, after the men haven't found the kids, they go in their car and drive away.
After this shock, Jamie and Abby are searching for a new hiding place.
Chapter 15
Abby and Jamie sits in the room of the squash hall and thinking about, what they should do now, but they don't know what they'll do now. Abby tells Jamie that she owes the men money, much money,
several thousand...and that she'll get a baby. Then Abby says that
she knows friends of friends in Cumbria and they should go there, because there they are safely and maybe they can borrow
her the money. Abby says that they have to split after they leave this building, but Jamie wants to go with her. She agrees.
Abby says that hey should go, if the situation out of the hall is safely.
Suddenly, after they dozed, Abby gets her first pains...
After a while they thinks that the situation is safely and they decides to flee, but from the other side of the squash court two figures are racing over the field...
Chapter 16
Abby and Jamie go out of the door and notice that they have to flee fast, because the next time the men could arrive. Abby lift herself into a big bin to hide, but Jamie tries to find
another way to hide. Suddenly the two men catch him and he hasn't a chance to escape.
One of the men asks Jamie for Abby and where she is, but Jamie doesn't say it, but father he makes a proposal:
Jamie will bring them the money and the two men leave Abby alone.
But the two men disagree and beat him very hard. One by one beats hits him until he can't stand anymore. Then one of the men says that he has to bring the several thousand to the meeting-point at the lay-by in 13 hours. Then they leave the fitness-centre and Jamie tries to search Abby in the bin....
But she isn't there...
I think Jamie is very afraid about this, because he doesn't know if the men catched Abby or if she can flew. Jamie is very worry about it...
Chapter 17
In the beginning of chapter 17, Jamie goes to Spider early in the morning and wakes him up.
Spider asks what Jamie is doing there and Jamie answers that he lefts home last night, but he doesn't tell his whole story, because of Abby. He asks Spider to tell nobody something about him. Then Jamie asks Spider to borrow him much money to help a friend who needs this money. Spider agrees and they arrange a meeting point for today for giving the money. Then Spider gives Jamie bit money and some food to buy
something for alive. Afterwards Jamie goes to a mini-market to buy some food and other thinks to alive and goes to the meeting point. Jamie thinks that this is hard to believe to have a friend like Spider and he is very happy about it.
I think this chapter shows the relationship between Spider and Jamie very well. Spider is a very good friend of Jamie and helps him in every situation. It's unbelievable that he borrows Jamie so much money, but this is a sign for a real friendship!
Chapter 18
Spider arrives at the meeting point and gives Jamie the whole money and something to eat. Also he gives him a pencil and a paper to write a farewell letter. During Jamie's father is searching everywhere for his son with
the police and also in the school. They asked Spider, if he know where Jamie is or if he said anything to him, but Spider said that he doesn't know where Jamie is. Jamie tells Spider that he is really happy about Spider and
that he has a best friend like him. I think he should be happy!
Then Jamie takes one's leave of Spider and goes away. Jamie walks to the lay-by and waits for the two men to give them the money and see Abby again.
Chapter 19-27 and the sad ending
Chapter 19
The two men sit in the car and they call on him to get in. Jamie gets in and Jamie blackmails them by saying that hey won’t see the money if they drive them anywhere and they should leave the girl alone. Also he blackmails them with a –none exist- video which shows the two men. The men agree Jamie tells them where the money is and they let him out in the nature.
This chapter show that Jamie is very clever, because he lies to the men by saying that there is a video, but in real there is no video, but the two men believe in it.
Chapter 20
In Chapter 20 Jamie meets Abby again, but he is very wondered about her baby she will get in short time. Jamie helps her very well and assists her by the birth. When she gave a birth the boy, they pull the boy and relax. Jamie tells Abby that he paid the men and says that his best friend Spider borrows him many money therefore. Then they are lying together in the darkness and sleep. When they wake up, Jamie asks Abby for the boys name and she calls him ‘Jamie’. Jamie feels very confused and then he finally learns her name, too.
I think this chapter is very surprisingly, because I don’t reckon that Abby get a baby, but this Chapter also shows that Jamie is a very helpful person and that he likes Abby very much.
Chapter 21
Abby and her baby want to go to Cumbria to Cartmel Fell and Jamie goes with them and helps them. Abby wants to hitch-hike and tries to stop a car, because driver more likely to stop for a girl on her own. Then a transit van with a man stops and takes the three kids. In the car the man asks Jamie for their life and what they are doing. During Abby sleeps, Jamie tells the man a wrongly story about them and I think that he tells the life story he would likes to live. Afterwards they hitch-hike with other cars, so that they only 8 miles have to walk and Jamie says that he will go with them till the end.
This chapter shows how unlucky Jamie is with his life, because when he tells his story, it seems to be as a dream-story. He tells all this things, which are different on his own life and this shows that he would likes to be another person.
Chapter 22
The walk through the night seems to be endless, but after a long walk they finally arrive the women’s house. Abby can’t stand a longer time and so they decides to push the bell, yet. Savita, the matron receives them. Abby tells her that she already called to her and Savita lets them in. She shows them their room and first, they eat something. Afterwards they go sleep together in one bed and Jamie enjoys this situation very much, he’d never seen a so beautiful and softly girl like Abby.
I can put myself in his position well and I believe that Jamie enjoys this situation very much, because he never met a so lovely and softly person like Abby and he didn’t know that feeling before.
Chapter 23
Jamie wakes up in the morning light and sees Abby, who wears new clothes and took a shower. She tells him that Savita is searching for some men clothes and that he can takes a shower, too, if he wants to. Jamie asks Abby for Savita and her life. Abby tells him that Savita builds this sort of commune for some women who have nothing and no one. Then Jamie asks Abby for her life and Abby begins to tell. She says that she ran away from home when she was fourteen and all she wanted was to go away. Then she met Angelo, the taller one of the two mysterious men, who found her when she was at her most vulnerable. He took her and was good to her in the beginning, but then she realized that he just wanted her for one thing and when he got bored with that, he decided to use her for something else. Jamie asks her for the money and Abby says that this money was money she had earned for him and she had borrowed it a friend called Jude to go away. Then Abby went away, because she wanted to meet her family in Ashingford and she tells Jamie that the other one of the two men is Vittorio, Angelo’s brother, who is even more dangerous than Angelo and they’re half-Italian, half-English. Abby tells that she met her father in Ashingford, but he ignored her like in the past and that’s the reason, she ran away. Jamie asks why her father ignored her and then she tells him that she has a twin, who was only loved by their father, because he is a winner type. When Jamie asks what her brother is a winner at, she answers: “Danny’s big thing has always been squash.”
I think that’s a real shock for him, because he finds out that the girl, he attends the whole time, is the sister of his biggest adversary. I would need a few days to realize this, because this would be a very big shock for me. Also I would be very angry about Bob Powell, their father, because he ignored her all the time and only loves Danny, the winner type.
Chapter 24
The next few days it was hard for Jamie to accept the message and he decides to go back home and Abby relates his decision, because she also thinks, that they’re two different characters in two different parts of live and Jamie has to go home. Abby doesn’t will go home. Never…
When they lied in the bed together so close, Abby says that she can’t make love with him and Jamie agrees that and has the same position. He encourages her and suddenly she gives him a kiss. Abby says that Jamie has to go the next morning without saying goodbye, because it’s better for both and she says: “Whenever you see your shadow, Jamie, remember you’re looking at me.”
I think this sentence is the most important one in the novel, because the symbolic of the word ‘shadow’ has an important role there. Abby means with this sentence that she will follow him everywhere and every time and she will always be by his sight, so he’ll never forget about her.
Chapter 25
Jamie is back home, but he can’t find his mother or his father. His home looks like every time, but it’s curious that all foot and drinks are full of a sort and everything is clear in his house. Before he goes to the squash hall he eats something and makes his way to Ashingford.
He goes into the changing room, thinks a while about Abby and then he goes to the
Tournament registration desk, because today are the regional Championships. All people are wondered about Jamie, because he missed a long time.
His adversary is Danny and Jamie plays only for Abby, so he wins the match with ‘nine-love, nine-love and nine-love’. Then he goes upstairs to Bob Powell and hits him very hard without saying anything. His dad goes with him into the changing room and Jamie represents him that he’ll go away again, when his father beats him again, but his father doesn’t want to hit him, he has a very hart message for him: Jamie’s mother is dead.
For me, this message would be a really hard shock, because it was very surprisingly and no one can guess this.
I can follow Jamie’s reaction against Bob, because of the behaviour to Abby he feels very angry. He ignored Abby and doesn’t love her and so she goes away from home.
Chapter 26
In the beginning of chapter 26, Jamie finds out how his mother dies. His father tells him that she read before his secret book and she thought that she’ll never see him again and was very sad, so she takes an overdose and…dies. Jamie thinks that he has the obligation for this.
Afterwards he talks with Spider, but he had already decided that he would never tell anyone about Abby, not even Spider. Jamie finds out that Angelo died and Vittorio takes all the money for himself. Spider nobody tells that he knew where Jamie is and he is very happy about it and tells Spider that he is the best friend he could ever have.
This scene shows the big relationship between Spider and Jamie. Jamie should be happy that he has got a friend like Spider. He borrows him many money and didn’t tell the police that he knows something about Jamie. In my opinion, a real friend!
Chapter 27
The last chapter of the novel deals with a last dialogue between Jamie and his desperate father. Jamie tells him his story and his father tells Jamie that he read his secret book and afterwards he realizes what he has done. He realizes all his mistakes and thought about it a long time, so he decided to change his live and behaviour against Jamie. Jamie feels happy about this and his father also says that he will give him the money, Spider borrows him.
In the night he thinks about his life, about his mother…and about Abby. Then he goes quietly as he can to his shed, turns on the lamp and…sees his shadow… and Abby’s words comes back to him: “Whenever you see your shadow, Jamie, just remember you’re looking at me.”
I think this is the perfect ending of the novel, because he talks with his father and his father decided to change his life. The ending with seeing the shadow and remember the words, I like very much.
Last and after reading this novel I ask me these questions:
• Does Jamie and Abby meet again?
• Does Jamie play squash again?
• Are Jamie and his father able to start a new life without the help of the mother?
• What happened to Abby and her son?
• Are they able to start a new and also happy life?
• Is Jamie beaten by his father again?
The two men sit in the car and they call on him to get in. Jamie gets in and Jamie blackmails them by saying that hey won’t see the money if they drive them anywhere and they should leave the girl alone. Also he blackmails them with a –none exist- video which shows the two men. The men agree Jamie tells them where the money is and they let him out in the nature.
This chapter show that Jamie is very clever, because he lies to the men by saying that there is a video, but in real there is no video, but the two men believe in it.
Chapter 20
In Chapter 20 Jamie meets Abby again, but he is very wondered about her baby she will get in short time. Jamie helps her very well and assists her by the birth. When she gave a birth the boy, they pull the boy and relax. Jamie tells Abby that he paid the men and says that his best friend Spider borrows him many money therefore. Then they are lying together in the darkness and sleep. When they wake up, Jamie asks Abby for the boys name and she calls him ‘Jamie’. Jamie feels very confused and then he finally learns her name, too.
I think this chapter is very surprisingly, because I don’t reckon that Abby get a baby, but this Chapter also shows that Jamie is a very helpful person and that he likes Abby very much.
Chapter 21
Abby and her baby want to go to Cumbria to Cartmel Fell and Jamie goes with them and helps them. Abby wants to hitch-hike and tries to stop a car, because driver more likely to stop for a girl on her own. Then a transit van with a man stops and takes the three kids. In the car the man asks Jamie for their life and what they are doing. During Abby sleeps, Jamie tells the man a wrongly story about them and I think that he tells the life story he would likes to live. Afterwards they hitch-hike with other cars, so that they only 8 miles have to walk and Jamie says that he will go with them till the end.
This chapter shows how unlucky Jamie is with his life, because when he tells his story, it seems to be as a dream-story. He tells all this things, which are different on his own life and this shows that he would likes to be another person.
Chapter 22
The walk through the night seems to be endless, but after a long walk they finally arrive the women’s house. Abby can’t stand a longer time and so they decides to push the bell, yet. Savita, the matron receives them. Abby tells her that she already called to her and Savita lets them in. She shows them their room and first, they eat something. Afterwards they go sleep together in one bed and Jamie enjoys this situation very much, he’d never seen a so beautiful and softly girl like Abby.
I can put myself in his position well and I believe that Jamie enjoys this situation very much, because he never met a so lovely and softly person like Abby and he didn’t know that feeling before.
Chapter 23
Jamie wakes up in the morning light and sees Abby, who wears new clothes and took a shower. She tells him that Savita is searching for some men clothes and that he can takes a shower, too, if he wants to. Jamie asks Abby for Savita and her life. Abby tells him that Savita builds this sort of commune for some women who have nothing and no one. Then Jamie asks Abby for her life and Abby begins to tell. She says that she ran away from home when she was fourteen and all she wanted was to go away. Then she met Angelo, the taller one of the two mysterious men, who found her when she was at her most vulnerable. He took her and was good to her in the beginning, but then she realized that he just wanted her for one thing and when he got bored with that, he decided to use her for something else. Jamie asks her for the money and Abby says that this money was money she had earned for him and she had borrowed it a friend called Jude to go away. Then Abby went away, because she wanted to meet her family in Ashingford and she tells Jamie that the other one of the two men is Vittorio, Angelo’s brother, who is even more dangerous than Angelo and they’re half-Italian, half-English. Abby tells that she met her father in Ashingford, but he ignored her like in the past and that’s the reason, she ran away. Jamie asks why her father ignored her and then she tells him that she has a twin, who was only loved by their father, because he is a winner type. When Jamie asks what her brother is a winner at, she answers: “Danny’s big thing has always been squash.”
I think that’s a real shock for him, because he finds out that the girl, he attends the whole time, is the sister of his biggest adversary. I would need a few days to realize this, because this would be a very big shock for me. Also I would be very angry about Bob Powell, their father, because he ignored her all the time and only loves Danny, the winner type.
Chapter 24
The next few days it was hard for Jamie to accept the message and he decides to go back home and Abby relates his decision, because she also thinks, that they’re two different characters in two different parts of live and Jamie has to go home. Abby doesn’t will go home. Never…
When they lied in the bed together so close, Abby says that she can’t make love with him and Jamie agrees that and has the same position. He encourages her and suddenly she gives him a kiss. Abby says that Jamie has to go the next morning without saying goodbye, because it’s better for both and she says: “Whenever you see your shadow, Jamie, remember you’re looking at me.”
I think this sentence is the most important one in the novel, because the symbolic of the word ‘shadow’ has an important role there. Abby means with this sentence that she will follow him everywhere and every time and she will always be by his sight, so he’ll never forget about her.
Chapter 25
Jamie is back home, but he can’t find his mother or his father. His home looks like every time, but it’s curious that all foot and drinks are full of a sort and everything is clear in his house. Before he goes to the squash hall he eats something and makes his way to Ashingford.
He goes into the changing room, thinks a while about Abby and then he goes to the
Tournament registration desk, because today are the regional Championships. All people are wondered about Jamie, because he missed a long time.
His adversary is Danny and Jamie plays only for Abby, so he wins the match with ‘nine-love, nine-love and nine-love’. Then he goes upstairs to Bob Powell and hits him very hard without saying anything. His dad goes with him into the changing room and Jamie represents him that he’ll go away again, when his father beats him again, but his father doesn’t want to hit him, he has a very hart message for him: Jamie’s mother is dead.
For me, this message would be a really hard shock, because it was very surprisingly and no one can guess this.
I can follow Jamie’s reaction against Bob, because of the behaviour to Abby he feels very angry. He ignored Abby and doesn’t love her and so she goes away from home.
Chapter 26
In the beginning of chapter 26, Jamie finds out how his mother dies. His father tells him that she read before his secret book and she thought that she’ll never see him again and was very sad, so she takes an overdose and…dies. Jamie thinks that he has the obligation for this.
Afterwards he talks with Spider, but he had already decided that he would never tell anyone about Abby, not even Spider. Jamie finds out that Angelo died and Vittorio takes all the money for himself. Spider nobody tells that he knew where Jamie is and he is very happy about it and tells Spider that he is the best friend he could ever have.
This scene shows the big relationship between Spider and Jamie. Jamie should be happy that he has got a friend like Spider. He borrows him many money and didn’t tell the police that he knows something about Jamie. In my opinion, a real friend!
Chapter 27
The last chapter of the novel deals with a last dialogue between Jamie and his desperate father. Jamie tells him his story and his father tells Jamie that he read his secret book and afterwards he realizes what he has done. He realizes all his mistakes and thought about it a long time, so he decided to change his live and behaviour against Jamie. Jamie feels happy about this and his father also says that he will give him the money, Spider borrows him.
In the night he thinks about his life, about his mother…and about Abby. Then he goes quietly as he can to his shed, turns on the lamp and…sees his shadow… and Abby’s words comes back to him: “Whenever you see your shadow, Jamie, just remember you’re looking at me.”
I think this is the perfect ending of the novel, because he talks with his father and his father decided to change his life. The ending with seeing the shadow and remember the words, I like very much.
Last and after reading this novel I ask me these questions:
• Does Jamie and Abby meet again?
• Does Jamie play squash again?
• Are Jamie and his father able to start a new life without the help of the mother?
• What happened to Abby and her son?
• Are they able to start a new and also happy life?
• Is Jamie beaten by his father again?
Characterisation of Jamie
Jamie Williams is a 16- years old boy who lives in Ashingford, a small town in England. He lives or playing squash, but by and by he is more and more pressured by his father, because he was a big squash champion and he wants his son become a champion, too. Jamie has bold hair, blue eyes is not tall, but has a strange body. He isn’t good at school and hasn’t got many friends. His neighbour Spider is his only and best friend. Jamie says that he is the best friend he ever could have. They’re often play basketball together. Danny, a great squash player, is his biggest adversary and in the beginning, Danny wins against Jamie, because of the better conditions. But in the end Jamie wins against Danny by the regional championships.
Jamie isn’t a very self confident pupil and wants to be another person, who has a better relationship to his dad. He is a very helpful person who always cares about the people he likes and he does everything for the girl he loves, Abby. He helped her in every situation and goes with her long ways, but they had to disconnect in the ending, because both realize that they are two different characters in two different live-positions. Also he is a very organized person who always thinks about the things he’ll do.
Jamie isn’t a very self confident pupil and wants to be another person, who has a better relationship to his dad. He is a very helpful person who always cares about the people he likes and he does everything for the girl he loves, Abby. He helped her in every situation and goes with her long ways, but they had to disconnect in the ending, because both realize that they are two different characters in two different live-positions. Also he is a very organized person who always thinks about the things he’ll do.
Own impression
After finishing the first chapter of the novel I felt very shocked, because of the brutality Danny’s father shows and the following parts confirmed my impression. It was very interesting to find out what will happen in the next parts. I try to understand the reaction and the behave of Jamie’s father and searched out the reasons for this. From time to time I sympathise more and more with the main characters of the novel, Jamie and Abby.
In the end I admired their attitude. There can be no doubt that both do their escape with any effort they have. More and more I recognized compassion for the teenagers during we read the book. It shows that Jamie can reach a lot if he wants to.
The book was very interesting to read and there wasn’t a boring part. I often felt angry, because of some scenes which were rather unjust, from my point of view. I often try to put myself in the position of the main characters and ask me the question, if I do the same or something else. In most cases I can identify myself with the teenagers. Also I try to identify myself with family members, but there was no way to put myself in the role of the father, because his behave was very bad. But in the end he tries to change his character and behave against Jamie, but I don’t know if he can. The novel makes me thinking about my life, too and I often feel happy that problems like these don’t exist in my life.
All in all I like “Shadows” very much, because it’s an example for the fact that you can resolve all your problems. It is a very good novel and especially the ending is very exciting and there was a sort of happy ending.
In the end I admired their attitude. There can be no doubt that both do their escape with any effort they have. More and more I recognized compassion for the teenagers during we read the book. It shows that Jamie can reach a lot if he wants to.
The book was very interesting to read and there wasn’t a boring part. I often felt angry, because of some scenes which were rather unjust, from my point of view. I often try to put myself in the position of the main characters and ask me the question, if I do the same or something else. In most cases I can identify myself with the teenagers. Also I try to identify myself with family members, but there was no way to put myself in the role of the father, because his behave was very bad. But in the end he tries to change his character and behave against Jamie, but I don’t know if he can. The novel makes me thinking about my life, too and I often feel happy that problems like these don’t exist in my life.
All in all I like “Shadows” very much, because it’s an example for the fact that you can resolve all your problems. It is a very good novel and especially the ending is very exciting and there was a sort of happy ending.
Good bye
...finished? =)
I hope, you enjoyed your visitation to my first (!!!) weblog.
It would give me great pleasure, if you comment on my weblog with nice phrases ;-)
Nice greets, Nico
I hope, you enjoyed your visitation to my first (!!!) weblog.
It would give me great pleasure, if you comment on my weblog with nice phrases ;-)
Nice greets, Nico
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