Shadow Of A Bull (Thorndike Press Large Print Literacy Bridge Series)

Rating:
Summary: I enjoyed this book
Review: Book Review: Shadow of a Bull

Do you think you would have enough courage to fight in a bullfight? Well, Manolo did. Manolo's father was one of the greatest bullfighters to ever walk the face of the Earth, and everyone expected Manolo to be the same. However, Manolo could not perform anywhere near his father's standards, and often wished he did not have to live up to those expectations. When he saw his first bullfight Manolo started to enjoy bullfighting more, and realized he could be as good as father. He practiced every day and got better, and better. Finally, he fought in his first bullfight. He did very well with the cape, but did not perform as well in his other competitions. Then an old man gave Manolo the choice to either become a doctor or a bullfighter. This was a very difficult choice for Manolo to make.

I guess you will have to read the book to find out what he chose.

In my opinion, Shadow of a Bull was a good book for several reasons. First of all, it was a quick easy reader. Second of all, I think that the author did a wonderful job describing the bullfight and the Spanish culture. The reader feels like he is at the bullfights cheering on Manolo. Next, I think that many people have faced intimidating challenges similar to the Manolo's. This makes it easy to sympathize with Manolo throughout the book. Finally, in addition to being a book about Spanish culture and bullfighting, Shadow of a Bull is a fable. The lesson to be learned from this book is that hard work pays off and that working hard is the only way to achieve goals. That is a very important lesson to learn in life. I would recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Shadow of a Bull
Review: I thought that the book "Shadow of a Bull" was a very good book. I thought it was interesting, because it was about this kid named Manalo that was afraid of bulls, but he had to fight them anyways. Some parts were interesting, because you could see how he was training, and all of the hard work it takes to be a great bull fighter. All in all, I thought that this book was a good, and interesting book to read.
This book was about this kid nmed Manolo. He had to become a great bull fighter, because his dad was the best bull fighter in Spain, and everyone wanted Manolo to be just like His dad. He had to do a lot of training to become a great bull fighter, and he went to a lot of bull fights, so that he could study all of the moves that the good bull fighter made. He like the bull fights, and he thought that they were interesting, but he did not like the end of the bull fights. He did not like them, because they would have to kill the bulls. He went through all of this training, and he would have become a great bull fighter, until he decided that he did not want to be a bull fighter anymore. He wanted his friend Juan to take his place, and he wanted to become a docter. He wanted to become a docter, because if anything would have happened to Juan, he could have helped him.
I think that it would be a great book to read for people to read, because it was a very interesting book. I think that people that like interesting books, and sports books will like it the most, because that is what the story is about, bull fighting,(a sport) and it is very interesting. I think that people should read this book, because I thought it was a very good book, and because I think that other people will like the book as much as I did, and maybe even more than I did. I thought that it was a great book, and I think that people should read it, because it was a great book.

Matt

Rating:
Summary: shadow of a bull
Review: Maia Wojciechowska is my aunt and is a wonderfully creative writer. This book speaks to the human spirit in a marvelous and challenging way. It gives children a window into the Spanish soul and spirit and crosses cultures with quiet widsom and thoughtfulness. I'd recommend this book to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: I WOULDN'T READ THIS BOOK AGIAN IF SOMEONE PAID ME!
Review: ok first I wanna say that this book was totally boring no suspense what so ever! Who wants to read a book with a glossary in the back??? Manolo is the son of the greatest matodor in spain who was gored during a bullfight. Now everyone in Spain wants Manolo to be a bull fighter (come on peeps the kid is like 10 and there teaching him to fight bulls? Thats kinda violent isn't it?) Manolo dosn't have an ounce of courage (I guess you would say that he's a "pretty boy") he dosn't want to fight the bull. On the day of his bull fight he gives the bull to some one who really deserves to fight. I don't think some one should write a children's book on bullfighting because it is a violent sport it is full of blood and death that shouldn't be tought to children.

Rating:
Summary: Shadow of a Bull
Review: Shadow of a Bull is a book about a boy named Manolo Olivar who is forced by the people of Arcangel to follow his father's path as a bullfighter. Everyone in the town of Arcangel expected him to fight a bull at the age of 12, just like his father had. He believed that he couldn't overcome his fear of the fight, and that he could not find the courage and strength to fight his first bull. His friend named Juan Garcia always went to the pastures to cape wild bulls(do passes with them). Manolo asked him if he could come and watch him cape the bulls. At first, Juan was hesitant and refused to take Manolo with him, but, after convincing Juan, they decided to meet a few days later to go to the pastures. Manolo got to see how Juan put his bravery and strength to test. He felt that he might be ready to fight his first bull. Manolo wanted to show the people how good Juan was at fighting bulls so he asked the Count if he could cape some cows after Manolo was done with his bull. The Count agreed and said he could cape the cows, but that he couldn't help Manolo with his bull. During Manolo's fight with the bull he said that he did not want to be a bullfighter and said that this was Juan's bull. So Juan started fighting the pull and did some magnificent passes. The crowd shouted "Ole!" and Juan had tears in his eyes. Manolo had given up what he was destined to do and had given that opportunity to Juan who pleased the crowd much more than Manolo could have done.
I enjoyed this book because it was fun to hear about the gorings of the bull fighters. Manolo was always scared to be gored by one of those big, sharp, bull horns. "In Spain, however, people have found a way of cheating death. They summon it to appear in the afternoon in the bull ring,and they make it face a man. Death-a fighting bull with horns as weapons-is killed by a bullfighter. And the people are there watching death being cheated of its right." Manolo feared death. He was not sure if he could cheat it like others could in the ring. I also would be scared if I had to fight a half-ton bull.
I also disliked this book because it was very boring in the first half. I would suggest this book to people that enjoy having a sad, but interesting ending. It would be enjoyable to read about how the bullfighters fought if the reader likes to hear about how animals can be killed with no chance to escape. I found it upsetting to read about how animals are cruelly tortured just for the entertainment of a crowd.
My favorite part of the book was when the doctor was showing Manolo the gore wound from a bull. It was very descriptive and explained very well how the wound looked. It seemed a little bit of fairness that bullfighters had been injured by the bull because humans usually injure them.
This book is great for young readers and adolescent readers(grades 4-7) and even older. This book is one of the best I have read. I recommend it to readers who want to learn about another culture or who want to find out more about bullfighting.

Rating:
Summary: shadow of a bull
Review: SHADOW OF A BULL is about a kid named manolo. Everybody wants manolo to be a bull fighter because his dad was the bravest man in the world. but he does not want to because he is afraid. At the end he becomes a doctor. I think that this book is great for kids and their parents to read together.

Rating:
Summary: Shadow of a Bull
Review: Shadow of a BULL is one of the greatest books i have read. It's easy to see why this book recieved a Newberry award. Manolo Olivar is the son of Juan Olivar the greatest bullfighter in all of Spain. Young Manolo is expected to do the same. Manolo thinks he is a coward and really doesn't want to fight the bull on his 12 birthday. Six men train Manolo for the fight. He was trained well and thought he could do it. Secretly Manolo wanted to be doctor. When Manolo went to see the doctor, he said he could help around the clinic. When Manolo was forced to fight the bull, he did well at the begining of the fight but, when it came time for the bull to be killed, Manolo choked and couldn't do it. After that, he went to work for the doctor. This book is a great book and i recomend it to anyone who wants to read a good book!!