Out Of Shadows Review (4.5/5)

Out Of Shadows is a truly remarkable novel, mixing elements of prejudice, politics and redemption to form a tale so strong that it would overthrow Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird were it not for a couple of drawbacks. The plot follows Robert Jacklin, a British schoolboy who moves to a South African boarding school in the time of Robert Mugabe's rise to power, only to find the promises of freedom and equality that came under the new leadership to be greatly exaggerated. Author Jason Wallace paces the narrative well, taking Jacklin from the early stages of Mugabe's reign to his darkest days while showing the looming strands of racism and corruption engulfing society; although, he perhaps focuses too much on the former issue, making the references to the prejudice facing Africa somewhat too obvious and explicit, to the point that where Lee subtly unveiled the shroud of darkness facing the world in the late twentieth century, Wallace simply endeavours to ensure that every reader knows the tone and overriding themes of the piece right from the offset. This is by no means a major reason not to read the Carnegie-nominated book, however, and certainly the harrowing and reflective climax is a fine pay-off, but it does hold Out Of Shadows back from a status as an all-time classic that is so noticeably within reach here. Nevertheless, Wallace's historical drama is one that does not deserve to be missed by readers!