Synopsis: “A stunning and moving novel from Michael Morpurgo, the nation’s favourite storyteller – featuring the bravest dog in all the world…

This is the story of Aman, as told in his own words – a boy from Afghanistan fleeing the horror of the Afghan war. When a western dog shows up outside the caves where Aman lives with his mother, Aman is initially repulsed – it is not customary for people to keep dogs as pets in his part of the world. But when Aman and his mother finally decide to make a bid for freedom, the dog Aman has called Shadow will not leave their side. Soon it becomes clear: the destinies of boy and dog are linked, and always will be”

My Review

Any follower of this blog will know that I love Michael Morpurgo’s books and this was another brilliant story. I spotted this in a charity shop recently, and thought it would be perfect for a couple of my reading challenges this year, including 20 Books of summer, even though it’s not on my original list!

It was mostly told from Aman’s story, a young Afghani refugee living in a detention centre in the UK in 2010, but also by Aman’s school friend Matt, and his Grandpa.

The story starts with Matt spending school holidays with his Grandpa, and telling him that his friend Aman and his mother are going to be sent back to Afghanistan, unless someone helps them. Matt persuades his Grandpa, a retired journalist, to go and visit them at the detention centre to try stop them from being deported. It’s while Matt’s Grandpa is visiting them, in the detention centre that Aman tells his story of meeting Shadow the spaniel, and why and how him and his Mum managed to escape to Britain as asylum seekers.

Shadow is a lovely dog, who keeps Aman and his Mum safe, and becomes very special, to them even though dogs aren’t normally treated as pets where they come from. As Aman tells more of his story to Matt’s Grandpa, he finds out more about who Shadow really belongs to, why he is so special, and how his owner might be able to help Aman and his Mum.

It’s another powerful story from Michael Morpurgo, and one that I think that needs to told again and again so that asylum seekers, especially families, get the help they deserve.

Highly recommended if you’re looking for a middle grade book based on a true story.

Book 8 of 20 Books of Summer 2026