Throwing Shadows [Hardcover]

E. L. Konigsburg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1994

Five short stories in which young people gain a sense of self.

--This text refers to the School & Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"five short stories...all crisp and compactly tailored in setting forth their common theme of self-awareness."

-- Booklist, starred review

"Five short stories...all crisp and compactly tailored in setting forth their common theme of self-awareness." -- Booklist, starred review --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

Here are five extraordinary short stories from the perceptive pen of E.I. Konigsburg. Each captures the moment when someone's life changes -- when a chance meeting between two people casts a shadow on what things have been like, and what they can become. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Peter Smith Pub Inc (January 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0844667684
• ISBN-13: 978-0844667683
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,801,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

E. L. Konigsburg is the only author to have won the Newbery Medal and be runner-up in the same year. In 1968 From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler won the Newbery Medal and Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth was named Newbery Honor Book. Almost thirty years later she won the Newbery Medal once again for The View From Saturday. She has also written and illustrated three picture books: Samuel Todd's Book of Great Colors, Samuel Todd's Book of Great Inventions, and Amy Elizabeth Explores Bloomingdale's. In 2000 she wrote Silent to the Bone, which was named a New York Times Notable Book and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, among many other honors.

After completing her degree at Carnegie Mellon University, Ms. Konigsburg did graduate work in organic chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. For several years she taught science at a private girls' school. When the third of her three children started kindergarten, she began to write. She now lives on the beach in North Florida.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Everyone throws a shadow..., August 13, 2002

By 

Jay - See all my reviews

This review is from: Throwing Shadows (School & Library Binding)

Konigsburg has written 5 short stories that each are designed to teach a lesson about life in a subtle manner. The stories are somewhat entertaining and beautifully written. While there is something that can be learned from life, none of these stories have large impacting moments; rather they are all lessons we learn from daily experiences with people. That was what I liked about it.

What I didn't like is that it was very slow moving and the stories were a bit lengthy with too much background information about characters we will not know for very long anyhow. Because of this I would not use the book as a read-aloud in a classroom environment, but some children may enjoy reading.

Why 4 stars?:
This is a beautifully written book that shows some lessons that we all learn in life through varied experiences. It doesn't suit well to read-alouds and the stories can get a bit long and bogged down with unimportant details. However, this may be just the right book for some child and if it keeps him reading then it is invaluable.

3.0 out of 5 stars Throwing Shadows Review, February 5, 2012

By 

Leon Williams - See all my reviews

This review is from: Throwing Shadows (Paperback)

Throwing Shadows is much longer than it should be, with pages and pages of extra details. However, each of the 5 short stories teaches the same lesson at a different angle: know thyself.

The moral is kind of the important thing in each story, but they don't talk about that until the end. Before that, you think that the point is one thing, then another. The stories are all about everyday things happening by chance that lead to other things.

Some of the stories are good to read just for fun, but others might seem rather dull, confusing, and pointless. I think that if you are planning to read Throwing Shadows, you should read a quick sample of each story first.

3.0 out of 5 stars Throwing Shadows by E. L. Konigsburg, January 31, 2012

By 

Quackie Homer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Throwing Shadows (Paperback)

The book Throwing Shadows is interesting and confusing. The confusing part was that you didn't know there were morals to the stories after reading each one you would look up and say 'What is the point of this? or I don't get it!!' Once you understand the reasons for the story though, you find yourself in a wonderful world which then quickly ends and wanders on to the next. I think readers should know about these morals to enjoy and make more sense of the plot and other inner details.

E. L. Konigsburg uses writing tools such as metaphors and her senses to describe the characters and settings and times they are in. She has also written longer books that I think she is much better at. Like The Mixed up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Any of these stories could be turned into suspenseful fantastic page turning chapter books especially The Village of the Weavers.

She is a truly exceptional writer.

Overall, the book taught me a few valuable lessons and I'm glad I read it.