Book review: A Quiet Kind of Thunder

Written by Sara Barnard
Available from Amazon
Ages: 15-18

Reviewed by Esther (15) who is severely deaf.

Esther

"After reading this book, I just wanted to give Steffi and Rhys a massive hug. This coming of age tale takes you on an emotional rollercoaster as Steffi and Rhys work out who they are together, while figuring out who they are by themselves. Steffi has selective mutism and Rhys is deaf.

Steffi is lost without her best friend Tem on the first day of sixth-form but is soon introduced by the teacher to the new kid Rhys, as they both know British Sign Language (BSL). The book follows familiar teenage themes as we watch Steffi navigate arguments with her best friend, lying to her parents and falling in love for the first time.

Sara Barnard created Steffi and Rhys to be relatable and real. The author wrote all their thoughts as raw and unfiltered – it felt like I was a part of their story, not just a spectator. The story focuses on hard subjects but the author writes with truth and depth. However, as the book was told from Steffi’s point of view, I would have liked to have read more about Rhys.

As a deaf person, I think it’s a great book for other deaf teenagers to read as Rhys’s experiences were very relatable – he even mentions the National Deaf Children’s Society at one point! He mentions his frustration with not being able to hear things and that he feels he must depend on people, however he also mentions the opportunities he receives from being deaf and the community he can be a part of.

This heart-warming book would be perfect for people aged 14 to 18 and is a brilliant book for both deaf and hearing teenagers alike."