Shadow of a Bull
| Industry | Literature |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1964 |
| Founder | Maia Wojciechowska |
| Products | Children's novel |
Shadow of a Bull is a novel authored by Maia Wojciechowska, which received the Newbery Medal in 1965, recognizing its outstanding contribution to American children's literature.
Plot summary
Manolo Olivar, a twelve-year-old boy, is the son of Juan Olivar, a renowned bullfighter who tragically lost his life in the arena when Manolo was just three years old. The community of Archangel, Spain, anticipates that Manolo will continue his father's bullfighting tradition. Meanwhile, Juan, the brother of Manolo’s friend Jaime, shares the ambition to become a bullfighter. However, Manolo grapples with both fear and the weight of his father’s legacy. The villagers frequently draw comparisons between him and his late father and take him to bullfights to familiarize him with the sport, yet Manolo yearns to uncover the reality behind his father's myth.
After observing a serious injury caused by a bull and witnessing the medical treatment administered, Manolo begins to contemplate pursuing a career as a doctor rather than following the expected path of bullfighting. While secretly training as a matador alongside Juan, Manolo faces his inner anxieties as the town’s annual fiesta—and his debut bullfight—draw near. Utilizing his connection with Count De La Casa, who had known his father personally, Manolo arranges for Juan to attend the event and quietly hopes that Juan will take on his bull to impress the count.
On the day of the fight, Manolo delivers a respectable performance but lacks the necessary courage for the final act. He then offers Juan an opportunity to complete the fight in the ring. Subsequently, the doctor extends an apprenticeship offer to Manolo, enabling him to follow his own aspirations instead of conforming to the community’s expectations of becoming a bullfighter.
Characters
- Manolo Olivar (Son of Juan Olivar)
- Juan Garcia (Friend of Manolo)
- Count De La Casa
- The Old Doctor
- El Magnifico
- The Six Men (aficionados)
Reception
Kirkus Reviews commended the novel for its "appropriately elegiac" tone. In a later essay reviewing Newbery Medal recipients from 1956 through 1965, librarian Carolyn Horovitz highlighted the book’s compelling simplicity and strength, describing it as "distinguished" and capable of evoking wonder through its exploration of both beauty and fear.