Newbery Medal (John Newbery Medal)
Shadow of a Bull
In a small Spanish town, Manolo grows up under the shadow of his late father, a celebrated bullfighter, while struggling between the expectations around him and his own fear. Through that conflict, the novel asks what courage means and what it takes to choose a life of one’s own instead of living out someone else’s wishes.
Work Information
Caught between his father’s legacy and his own fear, a boy tries to choose a life that is truly his own.
This 1965 Newbery Medal winner follows Manolo, a boy expected to become a bullfighter like his late father, as he tries to find his own path between fear and public expectation. Set in a Spanish town, the novel layers atmosphere, father-son legacy, and the meaning of courage in a restrained and enduring style.
Review Summaries
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The book is praised for its strong pull despite its short length, and for the way Manolo’s choices and growth come through clearly to the end. Many readers value it less for the bullfighting scenes than for the quiet struggle to find a path while living with fear.
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The story is seen as a moving account of a boy finding his own courage while his father’s memory turns into legend. Readers respond to the careful attention paid to the inner conflict outside the bullring.
Book Information
- Publisher
- Aladdin
- Published
- 2007-02-27
- Pages
- 160 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 13.02 x 1.27 x 19.37 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9781416933953
- ISBN-10
- 9781416933953
- Category
- 洋書/Children's Books/Classics
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?
Maia Wojciechowska's family fled Poland during World War II and emigrated to the United States after the war. She worked as an undercover detective, a motorcycle racer, a translator for Radio Free Europe, and a bullfighter before turning to writing. She was a friend of Ernest Hemingway, who said she knew more about bullfighting than any other woman.
Reviews
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Wonderful book on becoming a man
This book is directed at 11-14 year olds but I just gave it to an eighteen year old as a HS graduation present. It is well told and the wisdom it has to pass on is of value to a person of any age struggling to make the transition to maturity. It is also a nice inside view of the culture around bull-fighting.
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Book looks old and folded.
The book is very old. If you look at the picture, the top right corner has several folds. It was supposed to be a gift and now I have to buy another new book instead.
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Very well written
A very interesting short story with a thought-provoking ending.
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It was perfect.
Used the book to teach middle school students about bullfighting before traveling to Spain. It was perfect.
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Really Good
I really thought the book was interesting. I loved how Manolo got what he wanted and Juan got what he wanted as well.