Synopsis: From a war-torn village comes a boy with a magical and mysterious gift. Luka cannot see, but everything changes when he follows the snow leopard's pawprints.

Review:  Berlie Doherty describes this as “a feast of a book”, and it is a perfect description.

Two things immediately stand out: the warmth and originality of the characters, and the richness of the imaginative description. Reading the book is a sensual experience of shape, colour and texture. At first you delight in the startling use of imagery and then it becomes evident that this is much more to this book than an imaginative use of language: the imagery, and the language point to the fluid and unsettled nature of reality, throwing up questions about how we see the world, about freedom and choice. 

A fascinating tension exists between the “real” and the “possible.” Luka, a blind boy, discovers that he has the power to transfer his spirit to move with an animal, allowing him to experience the world from a stunning variety of perspectives. And yet it would be hard to describe this book as fantasy. As Luka experiences the world, we are reminded again and again that our perspective is limited and that what we see as reality is only what our circumstances make us capable of seeing; as Jez (Luka’s brother) describes an eagle as “a black angel edged in gold” it becomes impossible not to wonder at the degree to which our thoughts shape our understanding, and to marvel at the miracle of the universe.

Sharply contrasted against this dizzying world of possibility is the harsh and inescapable reality of a village suffering the trauma of recent war and destruction. The orphan children of the village love to hear Luka’s stories but it is perhaps small wonder that Florin’s ability to process any story or information is reduced starkly to “bang bang dead.”

Ultimately, The Shaman Boy”is a book about power. Luka must move between the powerlessness of fear and the power of imagination, love and infinity. There is power equally in malice and in friendship, and even inanimate objects become invested with the power of intent and symbolism. There are no simple answers, but much celebration of the power and gifts of each uniquely precious individual.

2007-08-25