Shadow of a Bull by Maia Wojciechowska

From the Publisher

Manolo was only three when his father, the great bullfighter Juan Olivar, died. But Juan is never far from Manolo's consciousness — how could he be, with the entire town of Arcangel waiting for the day Manolo will fulfill his father's legacy?

But Manolo has a secret he dares to share with no one — he is a coward, without afición, the love of the sport that enables a bullfighter to rise above his fear and face a raging bull. As the day when he must enter the ring approaches, Manolo finds himself questioning which requires more courage: to follow in his father's legendary footsteps or to pursue his own destiny?

Children's Literature

This reissue of the 1965 Newbery Award Book features an appealing cover showing a bull just as he passes the torero in the ring. A glossary of bullfighting terms appears in the back. The classic story of coming of age features Manolo Olivar and his struggle to overcome the expectations of everyone in his village and choose his own destiny. Manolo's father, one of the greatest tereros of all time, died in the ring when Manolo was only three years old and Manolo is expected to follow in his famous footsteps. When Manolo reaches his ninth birthday, six men in the town begin his training. They take him to bullfights and explain the moves. They are especially enamored with the honor exhibited in the sport. Manolo practices secretly, but he knows he has no desire to kill bulls. He would rather be a doctor. Manolo must make his stand and declare his intention when he is eleven years old. Young readers will identify with Manolo's soul searching struggle to claim his own identity, The many details of bullfighting may seem strange to readers unfamiliar with this sport, causing some to lose interest. Reading the book aloud in a classroom setting or by a parent with a child could provide opportunities for worthwhile discussions.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7--Haunted by the legend of his father, a world-famous bull fighter, 11-year-old Manolo Olivar searches for the courage to pursue his own dream. The characters in Maia Wojciechowska's Newbery Medal winning story (S&S, 1964, 1972) come vividly to life through Francisco Rivela's dramatic reading. His melodic voice and authentic Spanish accent draw listeners into Manolo's emotional struggle to remain faithful to himself while retaining the honor of his family and the respect of the townspeople who are looking to him to restore the glory that his father had once brought to their small Andalusian town. Readers unfamiliar with the Spanish terms for bullfighting techniques may find some of the passages hard to follow without consulting a dictionary (the original book included a glossary of terms). Wojciechowska's coming of age story, while set in surroundings unfamiliar to most Americans, will strike a responsive chord with young listeners facing their own issues about growing up, meeting others' expectations, and discovering that there are many different kinds of courage.--Cindy Lombardo, Ashland Public Library, OH

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