Parade of Shadows

The strong, descriptive writing and concise, eloquent dialogue have all the feel of watching a classic black-and-white movie. A literary getaway.

Julia is a sheltered but determined 16-year-old who convinces her
father to allow her to accompany him on his next business trip through the Ottoman Empire, representing England's Foreign Office. Far more than the leisure trip she expected, Julia finds herself witness to political intrigue and stirrings of revolution against the sultan. Their colorful traveling companions, including the handsome Graham Geddes, a Young Turks supporter, are shielding secrets and conspiracies of their own.

This was a bit if a disappointment. I had expected more of an adventure/quest story given the description. Instead, I had a coming of age story -- which I have no objections to, per se. I've read another book by Whalen before and liked it. But I had a hard time getting into Parade of Shadows. I didn't like the narrator much, and found her to be childish, impractical, and whiny. The narrative also dragged in spots. I think I might have enjoyed the book better if I had a better sense of what it was supposed to be.

I have wavered back and forth about whether this is a teen or a youth book, but I think it should stay in youth. Julia is a 16 year old in 1907 England who lives with her father. Her father is always traveling abroad for his work, and Julia stays at home without experiencing anything. She is longing for something new, and convinces her father that she should be allowed to go to Syria with him on his next trip. He agrees, and she goes on a politically charged, dirty, wild experience through the desert. This is at the time that the Young Turks are trying to come into power, and one of the Englishmen with their tour party is trying to get people into this group. The tour group that Julia and her father are with are all lying about their show more true motives in Syria – no one is as they seem. While Julia is 16, and there is a very light romance with the man rallying for the Young Turks, Julia is very naïve. Careful readers will be able to figure out exactly what’s going on long before Julia does in the last few pages of the novel. I think this book is more suited to the Youth Department, where historical fiction circulates better. And there is nothing in this book that would draw teens to it. show less

It's 1907, and sixteen-year-old Julia Hamilton lives an uneventful life in London, though she dreams of seeing distant places and having exciting adventures. Her mother died of an illness when Julia was very young and her father is often traveling in his work for the British Foreign Office. When she learns her father is to take a trip to the Middle East, she begs to come along, and to her delight, her father agrees.

On the journey, Julia befriends Graham Geddes, a handsome young student from Oxford whom she learns is to be part of their tour group. Graham shows her the sights of the exotic city of Beirut - and also awakens her to the political unrest in the region. Graham is sympathetic to the Young Turks, who wish to reform the Ottoman show more Empire, a position Julia's father strongly disagrees with. Julia is attracted to Graham but feels torn between him and her father. Their fellow travelers, and even their tour guide, seem to have hidden motives as well.

Parade of Shadows was another excellent historical novel with a unique setting by Gloria Whelan. Julia was a wonderful character - she starts out as a sheltered young girl, but during her journey she matures and becomes more aware of the world around her. In light of the current situation in the Middle East, it seemed particularly relevant to read about the political unrest that existed there a hundred years ago. I'd highly recommend this book to young adult readers who enjoyed the author's previous novels or who enjoy historical fiction show less