The Shadow War by Lindsay Smith

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Shadow War by Lindsay Smith Natalie Berglind Smith, Lindsay The Shadow War. Philomel, 2020 [416p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780593116470 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780593116494 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 9-12 It's 1942, and resistance takes many forms in Germany, including sneaking radio transmissions to spies, punching and shooting Nazis, and unleashing creatures from the shadow world onto SS soldiers. As a group of teens from varying backgrounds band together to fight for the resistance and make a difference, they may very well let the shadow world's power fall into the Third Reich's hands before they can properly use it for their own. Spanning multiple viewpoints, this novel has complex characters and their nuanced relationships at the forefront, exploring perspectives of the war that aren't often discussed, including the experience of lesbian Algerian-French Simone, Black tech genius Philip, and gay American Liam, along with Jewish siblings Rebeka and Daniel. Smith has meticulously researched the time period, including pop culture references and intricate accuracies that sneakily inform readers of the inner workings of the SS and the problem with Germans who wished to overlook the horrors around them at the time. Though the fantasy shadow plot doesn't always fit well with the historical setting, this book is well worth the read for its focus on the war experience at the personal level from less-told perspectives and for maintaining an unusually high level of diversity for its topic. [End Page 105] Copyright © 2020 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois