My Brother the Shadow

An unflinching portrayal of brotherhood in the face of addiction, told in gripping and heartfelt verse, perfect for reluctant readers who enjoyed Long Way Down and Canyon’s Edge

Twelve-year-old Marco has always felt close to his older brother, Chase. Somewhat shy, Marco feels a bit braver in the presence of Chase’s reckless confidence. But when his brother goes to college, Marco can immediately tell something is off. Chase’s words slur when he calls, and his grades start to drop. Soon Chase is asked to leave school. When he returns home, he’s a shell of himself and Marco can’t recognize the brother he once knew. Even Marco’s parents are at a loss for how to help Chase, and every day introduces a new reason to worry. Feeling trapped, Marco throws himself into photography as a way to cope. But when an overdose devastates their community, Marco can’t shake the feeling that Chase could be next.

Inspired by renowned poet Ralph Fletcher’s lived experience with a family member battling addiction, this powerful novel in verse features a thoughtful protagonist navigating difficult family circumstances. The story includes stunning photography that encapsulates the emotional world of the narrator.

• Praise for My Brother the Shadow“My Brother the Shadow is powerful, chilling, and all too real. This is a book that sticks with you long after you finish the last page. Much more than a story, it’s a mirror to hold up to your own life and family.”
  Gordon Korman, New York Times bestselling author of Hypergifted
• “If you know middle school boys who think they don’t like reading, Ralph Fletcher’s My Brother the Shadow is the novel to put in their hands. Written in beautifully crafted and accessible verse complemented by evocative photographs. This book is a gem.”
  Kate Messner, New York Times bestselling author of The Trouble with Heroes
• “My Brother the Shadow is a powerful and compassionate novel in verse that breaks open the silence surrounding addiction. A brave and deeply moving book, it reminds us that addiction is not a moral failure but a disease that touches whole families.”
  Georgia Heard, author of My Thoughts Are Clouds: Poems for Mindfulness and coauthor of Welcome to the Wonder House
• “So many people will find comfort in My Brother the Shadow. A warmly moving story told in the engaging voice of younger brother Marco. It’s a rough shared journey described with realistic, tender detail and love.”
  Naomi Shihab Nye, author of The Turtle of Oman and The Turtle of Michigan