The owner of the long shadow

Publisher: Takween Publications Number of pages: 233 There is an exceptional allure in stories where orphans take the hero's role, because it is real heroism. When you go out into the world and face it with an open chest, without a social system to support and protect you. It seems logical if we recall more childhood stories that left their mark on our hearts; Heidi, Annie, Tarzan, Sarah or Sally, Oliver Twist, Tom Sawyer, and even Harry Potter. These are the heroes through whom we learn to love life and truly belong to the world, as Judy Abbott expressed. This novel was written in 1912, and since then it has been a source of inspiration for readers, writers, and artists alike. It has been adapted repeatedly into theatrical and musical performances, films, series, and even cartoons. This novel tells the adventure of Judy Abbott, who left the orphanage because one of the guardians decided to take responsibility for her education after noticing her exceptional talent in writing, especially humorous writing, and her insistence on happiness as a choice in life, not a right inherited at birth. This novel is considered the counter-text to all fairy tales. It slowly and gently debunks the story of the princess imprisoned in the tower waiting for a prince to rescue her. And if there is a savior who appears at the beginning of the work, in the form of a long, unknown shadow, then we will follow Judy’s path as she escapes his guardianship, makes her own decisions, and grows in ways no one could have imagined. We will all witness the story of the orphan girl who turned into an equal rival to the idea of the rescuer prince, and how she decided to go out into the world to save it. This book is a step in that direction, reminding us, at least, that happiness is a choice… and a person aware of their options is a strong person. And who knows? Maybe a happy person.