Kai, Orla and Zak grew up together, their days spent on the patch of wilderness in between their homes, a small green space in a sprawling grey city. Music, laughter and friendship bind them together and they have big plans for their future - until Kai’s family suffers a huge loss.
Trying to cope with his own grief, as well as watching it tear his family apart, Kai is drawn into a more dangerous crowd, until his dreams for the future are a distant memory. Excluded from school and retreating from his loved ones, it seems as though his path is set, his story foretold. Orla, Zak and classmate Om are determined to help him find his way back. But are they too late?
When Shadows Fall is a fantastic, heartfelt story with amazing illustrations at every turn - they nearly need to be taken on their own without the story. I won't go too deeply into the story as there are other stops on the tour doing indepth reviews, but for my stop I was lucky enough to be able to be able to ask Sita a couple of questions about the amazing artwork in this story. She and Natalie, the illustrator, have been wanting to work together for many years, and this was worth the wait!
The end drawing of Kai with his hand on the book. It made me sob to see that she had brought him visually into a place of peace and hopefulness in image as I have hoped to do in words. He has his back to us and is looking forward and we have his back!
2. Was there any art that you all liked in drafting but couldn't fit into the book!
Yes! I think there was a lot. If you look on @evefalling insta and twitter you will see some of it. I did like the abstract figures and ravens like ink blown sketches that we couldn’t fit in this book, but the bubbles came in to take their place … and in the bubbles there is so much.
3. Any recommendations as to artists classical or contemporary that you like/admire?
Frida Kahlo is one of my favourite artists. I love the intensity of her portraiture and her insistence on creating her own iconography. I think Natalie Sirett’s work on fairy tale, representation and the female body also echoes this work.
I love the work of Faith Ringgold – currently being exhibited at The Serpentine Gallery. Her life’s work too is a collage of quilting, human rights, depicting joyful and soulful characters enjoying music and life.
Please check out the other posts on the tour, there's some fantastic insights and excerpts! I'm so glad I got to be a part of this one.
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