Chis Vick’s third novel for children, Shadow Creatures, is inspired by his own family history and provides insights into life under the Nazi regime in Norway during World War 2. This is powerful historical fiction drawing on oral history passed down through the generations, using the memories of those alive at the time to highlight the resilience of ordinary people experiencing occupation. Written with understanding and respect this is a thoroughly gripping and thought provoking story.

Shadow Creatures opens with a scene set today, when young Georgy is on holiday visiting her grandmother Tove and great-aunt Liva. Her curiosity is piqued when they meet an unusual old woman in the woods and she questions her elderly relatives about what happened to the three of them many years ago. The ensuing story is told from the viewpoints of Tove who was 12 when the Germans invaded, and Liva who was only 9. This sharing of the storytelling enables the reader to appreciate the differing viewpoints of mutual experiences and highlights the contrasting personalities of the two sisters. Alongside his own family history Chris Vick incorporates the Norwegian myths of the Underjordiske, or ‘shadow creatures’ from whom the sisters draw inspiration in their acts of defiance against the Nazis.

Among the village community in which Tove and Liva live are Mose and her daughter Agna, newly arrived in the village and treated with suspicion. But young Liva, left out of the secrets her sister Tove and brother Haakon share, idolises Agna who has become the village rebel and follows her everywhere. After the arrival of the German army their daily lives of fishing, exploring, and picnics on a nearby island are changed irrevocably. The island itself becomes home to a prisoner of war camp, Haakon becomes part of the local resistance delivering underground news sheets in loaves of bread and Liva and Agna become increasingly drawn into danger.

As an adult I knew very little about Norway’s role in World War 2 and was struck by a fact mentioned in the author’s note at the end of the book. Apparently although Norway had a population of fewer than three million they caused so much trouble by their acts of defiance that Hitler sent 400,000 soldiers to keep them under control draining the Nazi army of both manpower and resources. Shadow Creatures explores the lives of the ordinary people who were affected in differing ways by this experience. This exploration draws attention to the moral dilemma of those living under a brutal regime and asks the question what is the ‘right’ thing to do in these circumstances. Many discussions could be prompted by this aspect of the story and Vick encourages his readers to consider the choices made by the different characters from an ethical point of view. This study of the past may also encourage young people to contemplate events today with a little more understanding.

I found Shadow Creatures an illuminating and powerful read and would recommend it for children of about 12+. This would be an excellent book for use in the classroom as part of the history curriculum and would also appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction. If you are interested in exploring more fiction on a similar theme you may like to try Resist by Tom Palmer and Hide and Seek by Robin Scott-Elliott.

Shadow Creatures was published by Zephyr Books on 3rd October and I should like to thank Laura Smythe and the publishers for my proof copy.