Review of Living My Shadows

[Owuamanam Eberechukwu]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Living My Shadows" by Kevin IJA Barnett, Sr.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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I have always wondered what it was like to grow up in a foster home. At two, I lost my birth father, and for all the while that I have lived, I have always felt that emptiness. It’s always like something is missing. This experience has made me countlessly wonder how children in foster homes feel. What is it like to be abandoned and never know who your biological parents are? The fact remains that no matter how kind and good your foster parents are, their affection can never be the same as your biological parents. This book, Living My Shadows by Kevin IJA Barnett, Sr., brings to light the author’s experience as an abandoned child. His journey of fifty years before finding his roots and his determination to break the barriers that many thought he could not break. The book brings to light how the author lived in the shadows cast on him for fifty years.

There are many circumstances in life, and there are many situations we will encounter in life, but how do we live beyond these situations? Do we allow these situations to define us? Can we live beyond the shadow? Can we share our story in a manner others can relate to? In this book, the author amazes me by answering all these questions and, above all, by sharing his story emotionally. One can find oneself in the author’s story and manner of presentation, and I love it. The author also presented his narration vividly. I felt a groin in my throat when the author said, "I was a shadow nobody wanted from the start." The expression represented the feelings and thoughts of most abandoned children, and I could feel their scars and trauma. The author’s ability to reach out to the reader’s emotions is commendable, and I love it too.

The author did a great job with the imagery associated with the book. However, the beginning pages presented an image of abandoned children as hopeless and abandoned because of evil intent. What if they abandoned the child because the mother had no choice? The author maintained a stringent argument and presentation on abandonment that depicts no hope. I wouldn’t say I like this approach. Giving a little hope could be a good way to strike a balance. However, the later pages showed hope, but I still dislike the isolation and hopeless characterization of abandonment in the beginning pages.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 because the author wrote vividly. The manner of presentation is linear. Although flashbacks were used, events and life experiences are presented chronologically. The book is also arranged into three parts, and this makes for easy reading. The book is exceptionally well edited and the rules of formal writing are adopted.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding the lives and feelings of abandoned children. The book is also suitable for young people who feel debased. They can definitely find motivation in the author’s life story. 

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Living My Shadows
View: on Bookshelves

[Paully_]

It's unfortunate that the author had to go through such experience. But there is a reason for everything. People who have been abandoned can derive hope from the author's story.

[Oluwasogo Familusi]

The feeling of being abandoned by one's parent is a sad one; I feel for the author and I hope to learn from his experience.

[Judith Wekati]

I love the story in the book it teaches,,we should not abondon our own children because they suffer more being with other people

[Fearnia Laurel]

I applaud the author for willing to share his experience, his scars and trauma. I hope this book would inspire other people, helping the lost to find their way. Thank you for the review.

[Sumto Nii]

I have kids and from experience, I can categorically say that no one takes care of a person's child like the biological parents. This is a great review.