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While on a voyage far from home, a ship’s master sees a girl laughing in the sea. A wise old woman tells him where to find her, and also tells him that he must hide her shadow. Convinced that he loves the girl more than the sea itself, he takes her back to the river of his birth, where their son is born. The boy grows up in a world of silence. His father is gloomy and his mother moves like a shadow in the house and walks alone by the sea. The boy finds an old sea chest in the attic, where he returns whenever he feels sad and lonely. One day its rusty lock comes undone, and inside he discovers a strange white skin with an underside that stings him. The boy becomes feverish, and in his delirium hears a voice telling him to take the skin down to the shore.
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About the Author:
Seán Virgo is a noted poet, short story writer, and novelist. He lives in Eastend, Saskatchewan. Javier Serrano Pérez is the graphic designer and art director of Anaya, one of Spain’s most prestigious children’s publishers. He lives in Madrid.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:
One by one they came out of the water and ran laughing towards the trees, but they left their shadows lying there on the sand.
He went down and knelt by the girl’s shadow and took hold of it, as the old woman had told him. He pulled it towards him, folding it over and over. Its underside was soft, and whiter than the sand, and when he had finished he took the bundle and hid it in his boat.
* * *
Every day she walked out alone, beyond the town, but some afternoons she would wait for him in the lane behind the school and they would go hunting together.
There were trails in the bracken coombes where she set snares for the rabbits, but most often they went to the rivermouth past the spit and there he would wade knee deep in the stream, driving the fishes towards her darting hands. She would split a fish open with her thumbnail, and share the sweet strips of meat that lay under the fins.
* * *
On his tenth birthday he had climbed up into the roof, where a swallow was beating her wings in fright among the rafters. He caught the bird in his hands, and set her free through a gap in the tiles, and then behind the chimney he found the old sea chest with its great rusty lock.
From that day forward, whenever he was sad when the fog crept in from the sea, or when the boys of the town were unkind to him after school he would go up to his room, and climb through the hatchway into the roof, and sit beside the old chest and escape into daydreams.
He went down and knelt by the girl’s shadow and took hold of it, as the old woman had told him. He pulled it towards him, folding it over and over. Its underside was soft, and whiter than the sand, and when he had finished he took the bundle and hid it in his boat.
* * *
Every day she walked out alone, beyond the town, but some afternoons she would wait for him in the lane behind the school and they would go hunting together.
There were trails in the bracken coombes where she set snares for the rabbits, but most often they went to the rivermouth past the spit and there he would wade knee deep in the stream, driving the fishes towards her darting hands. She would split a fish open with her thumbnail, and share the sweet strips of meat that lay under the fins.
* * *
On his tenth birthday he had climbed up into the roof, where a swallow was beating her wings in fright among the rafters. He caught the bird in his hands, and set her free through a gap in the tiles, and then behind the chimney he found the old sea chest with its great rusty lock.
From that day forward, whenever he was sad when the fog crept in from the sea, or when the boys of the town were unkind to him after school he would go up to his room, and climb through the hatchway into the roof, and sit beside the old chest and escape into daydreams.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherGroundwood Books
- Publication date2014
- ISBN 10 0888999712
- ISBN 13 9780888999719
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages64
- IllustratorSerrano Pérez Javier
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The Shadow Mother Format: Hardcover
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The Shadow Mother by Virgo, Seán [Hardcover ]
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ISBN 13: 9780888999719
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The Shadow Mother (Hardcover)
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ISBN 10: 0888999712
ISBN 13: 9780888999719
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Serrano Pérez, Javier (illustrator). Hardcover. In the Selkie legends of Scotland and Ireland, a seal sheds its skin and comes ashore as a woman. When a man falls in love with her, he hides the skin to prevent her from returning to the sea. In Sean Virgos story, the master of a tall ship hides the shadow of his beloved, with moving consequences.While on a voyage far from home, his ship at anchor among islands and palm trees, a ships master sees a girl laughing in the sea. He is entranced and searches for her on his way home. A wise old woman tells him where to find her, and also tells him that he must hide her shadow. He is convinced that he loves the girl more than the sea itself, and takes her back to the river of his birth, where their son is born.The boy grows up in a world of silence. His father is gloomy, and his mother, although loving, moves like a shadow in the house and walks alone by the sea, full of loss and longing.On his tenth birthday the boy finds an old sea chest in the attic, where he returns whenever he feels sad and lonely. One day its rusty lock comes undone, and inside he discovers a strange white skin, with an underside that stings him. The boy becomes feverish, and in his delirium hears a voice telling him to take the skin down to the shore. Waves gradually take the skin and the boy into the water, and he swims out to the world where he belongs.Sean Virgo was first inspired to write this story when researching a novel in the Solomon Islands, where the islanders believe in Kareimanua, a half man, half shark. He was also influenced by the Selkie legends of Scotland and Ireland, the swan maiden of Germanic myth, and the European fascination with the South Seas, involving both romance and plunder.Sean Virgos mysterious, haunting story is complemented by Javier Serranos extraordinary and stunningly beautiful illustrations. A sailor steals the shadow of a beautiful girl who came from the sea, hiding the skin in a chest where it remains until their son discovers it. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780888999719
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The Shadow Mother (Hardcover)
Published by
Groundwood Books Ltd ,Canada, Ontario
(2014)
ISBN 10: 0888999712
ISBN 13: 9780888999719
New
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Serrano Pérez, Javier (illustrator). Hardcover. In the Selkie legends of Scotland and Ireland, a seal sheds its skin and comes ashore as a woman. When a man falls in love with her, he hides the skin to prevent her from returning to the sea. In Sean Virgos story, the master of a tall ship hides the shadow of his beloved, with moving consequences.While on a voyage far from home, his ship at anchor among islands and palm trees, a ships master sees a girl laughing in the sea. He is entranced and searches for her on his way home. A wise old woman tells him where to find her, and also tells him that he must hide her shadow. He is convinced that he loves the girl more than the sea itself, and takes her back to the river of his birth, where their son is born.The boy grows up in a world of silence. His father is gloomy, and his mother, although loving, moves like a shadow in the house and walks alone by the sea, full of loss and longing.On his tenth birthday the boy finds an old sea chest in the attic, where he returns whenever he feels sad and lonely. One day its rusty lock comes undone, and inside he discovers a strange white skin, with an underside that stings him. The boy becomes feverish, and in his delirium hears a voice telling him to take the skin down to the shore. Waves gradually take the skin and the boy into the water, and he swims out to the world where he belongs.Sean Virgo was first inspired to write this story when researching a novel in the Solomon Islands, where the islanders believe in Kareimanua, a half man, half shark. He was also influenced by the Selkie legends of Scotland and Ireland, the swan maiden of Germanic myth, and the European fascination with the South Seas, involving both romance and plunder.Sean Virgos mysterious, haunting story is complemented by Javier Serranos extraordinary and stunningly beautiful illustrations. A sailor steals the shadow of a beautiful girl who came from the sea, hiding the skin in a chest where it remains until their son discovers it. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780888999719
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