One Shadow on the Wall

By Leah Henderson

An orphaned boy in Senegal must choose between loyalty and survival to keep his family together.

4.4/5 Goodreads · 192 ratings

448 pages· 98,314 words· Est. 13.5 hour read

$8.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In Senegal, eleven-year-old Mor hears his late father's voice, reminding him of a promise: protect his sisters and keep the family united. But with an aunt threatening separation and a gang demanding his spirit, Mor faces a daunting choice. Should he stay true to his father's wishes, risking failure, or join the gang for a semblance of loyalty? As the summer heat intensifies, Mor's struggle between right and easy becomes a test of love, loss, and the courage to shape his own future. Can he keep his promise, or will he be forced to compromise?

From the publisher

An orphaned boy in contemporary Senegal must decide between doing what is right and what is easy as he struggles to keep a promise he made to his dying father in this “stirring” (School Library Journal) debut novel laced with magical realism. Eleven-year-old Mor was used to hearing his father’s voice, even if no one else could since his father’s death. It was comforting. It was also a reminder that Mor had made a promise to his father before he passed: keep your sisters safe. Keep the family together. But almost as soon as they are orphaned, that promise seems impossible to keep. With an aunt from the big city ready to separate him and his sisters as soon as she arrives, and a gang of boys from a nearby village wanting everything he has—including his spirit—Mor is tested in ways he never imagined. With only the hot summer months to prove himself, Mor must face a choice. Does he listen to his father and keep his heart true, but risk breaking his promise through failure? Or is it easier to just join the Danka Boys, whom despite their maliciousness are at least loyal to their own? One Shadow on the Wall is about love and loss, family and friendship, and creating your own future—even when it’s hard to do.

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