Out of Shadows

By Jason Wallace

Africa has finally triumphed in the battle for equality and independence, Robert Mugabe has risen to the challenge of governing and guiding a country brimming with disagreement and racism. Robert Jacklin, an English boy, is among many others starting a new life but, unlike his classmates, his is in a new country with completely new people. Although the battle has been lost and the war is over, his new found “friends” don’t want this new black government, they want their country back and they’re not prepared to wait. This cleverly narrated novel follows Robert through his last school years in 1980’s Zimbabwe, and as he finally believes he has settled in and made a new start, he realises all too late he hasn’t.

In many ways I can’t fault this book which brings to head so many issues of that era which previously I had been unaware of. This novel charts the journey that Robert makes between childhood and adulthood and alongside this follows the growing political dispute that is raging in Africa. The same passage crops up again and again in the novel-

" ‘If I stood you in front of a man, pressed the cold metal of a gun into your palm and told you to squeeze the trigger, would you do it?’

‘No sir.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course, sir. No ways!’

‘What if I then told you we’d gone back in time and his name was Adolf Hitler? Would you do it then? Would you?’ "

This brings about many questions and thoughts for Robert. Would he be brave enough? Would he see a reason to pull the trigger? Eventually he realises in the penultimate pages that he can never find the answer and the only question he would really need to ask himself is ‘why?’. Wallace has portrayed a completely unique character by creating Robert, as he shows two sides of his personality- confident young man, vulnerable child; violent gang member, thoughtful citizen. You never quite know which one is going to come out until the climax of the chapter.

Throughout the novel the events are narrated by Robert and therefore told in first person. I love the way Wallace has added a few elements of distinct tension and almost teases you as you read on. Every so often there is a sentence, a few words outlining Robert’s feelings for what is to come, only, he doesn’t tell you what is to come. For instance:

"Ivan must have been pleased at this point in time, it was going so well. But all that was about to change and when it did I dare say even Ivan didn’t know what had hit him"

This particular phrase drove me up the wall and had to force myself to read on quickly so I found out what all these daunting phrases meant. Some books are filled with tension and then let you down at the climax; however, Out of Shadows is strong in the plot the whole way through and doesn’t falter even at the end.

My favourite scene is the last chapter when Robert returns to his school over twenty years later which has now been closed down. He ties all his feelings and thoughts together and reminisces the words that have scarred his memory for life. Wallace describes in such a way the changes and similarities of Haven school since Robert’s last year. He uses metaphors and similes to describe his surroundings and the passage is dripping with regret and sadness. Finally, I left this book with a smile on my face as Robert meets again his friend Weekend from the school telephone exchange. His manner and way of speech can’t fail to make me smile and he was my favourite character throughout the book!

Overall, the structure and content of this book- particularly the continuous reference to past political problems and racial tensions- make this book a little complicated. But, it is quite light and you can read it easily without having to think too much about the words. It expresses the opinions and thoughts of young people living in Zimbabwe at the time and makes you question the word ‘equality’- was there ever such a thing? I loved this book as it had an interesting plot and addressed key issues. I would recommend it highly!

Eleanor, Year 8