The Shadow War
Readers rate it 3.0 (2 on Hardcover)
418 pages · Released Feb 23, 2021 · Penguin
Content report card
The Shadow War parent’s guide: what’s inside
Substance use
What it offers
Educational value
A note for parents
The Shadow War is a dark WWII-fantasy hybrid featuring five teen protagonists fighting Nazis and interdimensional threats. The book contains significant violence tied to its wartime setting and supernatural elements, some profanity, brief romantic content including LGBTQ+ themes, and mature themes of loss and trauma. However, it emphasizes survival, determination, and standing against tyranny, with diverse protagonists who demonstrate resilience and moral courage.
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From the publisher
Inglourious Basterds meets Stranger Things in this dark and thrilling tale of power, shadow, and revenge set during World War II. World War II is raging, and five teens are looking to make a mark. Daniel and Rebeka seek revenge against the Nazis who slaughtered their family; Simone is determined to fight back against t... Inglourious Basterds meets Stranger Things in this dark and thrilling tale of power, shadow, and revenge set during World War II. World War II is raging, and five teens are looking to make a mark. Daniel and Rebeka seek revenge against the Nazis who slaughtered their family; Simone is determined to fight back against the oppressors who ruined her life and corrupted her girlfriend; Phillip aims to prove that he's better than his worst mistakes; and Liam is searching for a way to control the portal to the shadow world he's uncovered, and the monsters that live within it--before the Nazi regime can do the same. When the five meet, and begrudgingly team up, in the forests of Germany, none of them knows what their future might hold. As they race against time, war, and enemies from both this world and another, Liam, Daniel, Rebeka, Phillip, and Simone know that all they can count on is their own determination and will to survive. With their world turned upside down, and the shadow realm looming ominously large--and threateningly close--the course of history and the very fate of humanity rest in their hands. Still, the most important question remains: Will they be able to save it? Praise for The Shadow War: "Nonstop action, consistent worldbuilding, and a large cast of sympathetic characters, all of them marginalized in some way, create an engaging story." --Kirkus Reviews "An action-packed historical novel with a science fiction twist, Smith has crafted a novel where Stranger Things meets Nazi hunting. A solid purchase for YA shelves and any reader who wants to fight Nazis." --School Library Journal
Shelved under
- Young Adult Fiction
- Fantasy
- Young Adult
- Science fiction
- War
- LGBTQ
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ISBN 9780593116494 · Penguin