As you open “Anger is Only a Shadow”, you enter Lil’s world, a mix of chaos, rebellion and love. Set in Washington D.C., the book follows Lilliana Pantaleon-Ortiz, also known as Lil’, an Afro-Dominican and Indigenous Salvadoran teenage girl. “Anger is Only a Shadow” was published on Sept. 15 by Elizabeth Acevedo, the author of “The Poet X”, as a standalone book written in verse and prose. The e-book and audiobook, read by Acevedo herself, are available on the Sora app.
“Anger is Only a Shadow” is broken into three parts, with the first being titled “Inside,” as Lil is in a juvenile detention center. Lil brings readers into the detention center through her point of view. The imagery that Acevedo used throughout these chapters shows the reality of what goes on within a place like this. It allows the reader to sympathize with Lil and the other young girls in the detention center but also gain an understanding of the juvenile detention system.
One of the characters that stood out the most in this section was Poetry Lady because of the way Lil describes her. They form an unspoken bond as she becomes part of Lil’s weekly routine while inside the detention center. Poetry Lady helps Lil and the other girls express and understand their emotions in a safe manner through poetry exercises. Although her role in the plot was short, it plays an important part in Acevedo’s connection with this book. In the author’s note, readers learn that Acevedo takes from her own past experience of leading poetry workshops in a detention facility to build these meaningful scenes.
The second and longest part of the book, titled “Outside,” focuses on Lil’s life after being released to her parents with an ankle monitor. This is where the book dives into Lil’s family dynamics and introduces a major theme of the story: mental health. Aldwin, Lil’s older brother who is away at college, deals with schizophrenia. The mix of prose and verse brings the readers deep into the story, allowing them to feel Lil’s confusion, fear and pain in those moments with her brother.
Amongst the chaos within her home life, Lil also has to deal with the repercussions of her past choices at school. Her wild and strong desire to be free has damaged her reputation, leaving her all alone. That is until she meets Yonas and Trina, though their friendship is not instant as she has to regain everyone’s trust. This takes readers through a rollercoaster of emotions, watching Lil work through her old habits to fix the relationships she broke.
As Aldwin’s condition worsens and the date of her final trial approaches, Lil is forced to make a decision that could affect her entire future. At this point in the book, there is so much suspense, making it difficult to put the book down. It seems that there is no clear and definitive choice that Lil can make but ultimately her love and loyalty to her brother wins. Lil’s determination and dedication to help her brother is admirable and shows readers a different side from her fierce personality.
The third and final part of the book, “Outside In,” doesn’t end how readers would expect, leaving them at the edge of their seats. Though it is initially frustrating, it allows readers to shift their focus from the trial results to Lil’s character development. Lil’s story is a strong representation of how someone’s past does not define them. Lil’s impulsive decisions were hiding the underlying truth of who she truly was and with the help of her support system, family and friends, she overcame it.
The ending leaves readers thinking about Lil and the events of the book long after they finish reading. “Anger is Only a Shadow” is a book you will not want to put down and a must-read for anyone who enjoys Acevedo’s books.
