The Shadow Club by Neil Shusterman was recommended to me over the summer by Anastasia Gruper, my colleague at Bernotas. She has been using it as a read-aloud in her classroom and says her students immensely enjoy it. After I finished reading the books a few weeks ago, I can easily see why any middle school student would love this book. It is suspenseful, funny, and full of characters that one can easily relate to. Also, I absolutely love the theme of how bad things can happen to good kids when they take things to far. Furthermore, when my sister saw me reading this book, she excitedly said, "Oh my gosh! I love that book!"
Summary:
The Shadow Club tells the story of a group of kids who feel they are always second best. They seek to even the score by starting a club and playing a series of practical jokes on their arch rivals. The seemingly innocent pranks begin to spiral out of control, and the group of second best "good kids" realize what they have truly become. Read The Shadow Club and explore the themes of revenge, friendship, and mob mentality.
Check out the front and back cover of the The Shadow Club by clicking here.
Review by Mr. Juliano
13 comments:
I really like the fact that you said this book was suspenseful and funny. Those are the kinds of books I enjoy reading, ones that have a serious plot line but can also give you a laugh from time to time. I was also wondering how old the kids in this book are?
The kids are in 9th grade - but in the book that is the "last year of middle school." So, they are of high school age but are still technically in middle school.
I agree - suspense is really the key in books, at least for me. If I do not want to know what will happen next, then I lose interest very quickly. The Shadow Club did an awesome job at wanting me to keep reading chapter after chapter, and the fact that it was so funny as well made for an awesome read.
What great themes! Do you feel like this book has some underlying moral (or other) lessons for middle school students who read it? Do you plan on using it with your classes?
I'm using it as my first read-aloud in language arts in the fall. I've also created an online classroom that contains a plethora of activities to supplement the book.
As far as lessons go, I think it is one of those "be comfortable with yourselves" type of morals. Just because you may think you are second best doesn't mean you are. Everyone has a lot of outstanding qualities, it is just about believing in yourself and not putting stock in what other people say/think about you.
I think this was a good review. I am reading the shadow club right now and it is a good book! :-)
What's the setting of the shadow club and when does it take place?
Interesting to know.
lololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololol
This book totally failed man. It was terribly too quick to get started and really typical.
lololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololol
This book totally failed man. It was terribly too quick to get started and really typical.
@Recent Anonymous
That's your personal opnion, if you think it went too fast, fine. Personally I thought this was a good book. I enjoyed reading it, the humor was good. I agree with Juliano, suspense is key in books. I just lose complete interest if I don't want to know what's going to happen next.
What are the settings in the book?
This book sucks butt
8=======} weiner lol
Post a Comment