Reviews with content warning for Ableism - A Quiet Kind of Thunder

I really enjoyed the majority of this book. It took me a bit to get into it, but once I did I thought it was great. I think this book is such amazing representation of not only anxiety but how it feels to have a chronic illness that isn't immediately visible to the world and that at times feels like it's all in your head. So while I don't have anxiety to the extent Steffi does I still felt incredibly seen by this book. There were definitely some parts that hit a bit too close to home, especially the conversations and fears around Steffi attending university, but I'm very glad I read it.

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lucys_library's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.5

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booksarefriends_notfood's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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legalplanner's review

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a lovely book that had me going from start to finish. When we first meet our main characters we find that they both have differences from their classmates that make them stand out far more than they wished, but also makes their parents worried a lot more than they should.

Steffi was interesting to get to know because she is considered a "selective mute" which irritates her mother more often than not. When she meets Rhys a new student who happens to be deaf she finds that talking to him is easy.

The parental struggles of parents know best and the child trying to spread their wings was a major plot point here. This was sometimes hard to read because Steffi's mom and dad were complete opposites when it came to handling her future. When Steffi is worried she's failed at everything her parents finally come through for her and that was a relationship growth I wasn't looking out for. Her relationship with Rhys is sometimes frustrating and infuriating, but when you remember they are 16 you remember your first relationship and the angst and the lack of communication. Their relationship is less irritating angst and more trying to figure out how to be with other people.

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helpme71's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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foreverinastory's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Read as the August #WickAndJaneBookClub pick on Instagram, the theme was d/Deaf/Hard of Hearing MC.

Rep: female MC with anxiety and selective mutism, deaf male love interest (possibly BIPOC, described as brown skin), MC's female best friend is unspecified BIPOC and possibly a refugee (best guess at ethnicity is Somalian based on last name). Several side character are deaf and use sign language, Syrian male side character.

CWs: Ableism, alcohol consumption (some underage), gaslighting, grief, mental illness (anxiety), panic attacks/disorders, bullying, child death, car accident, infidelity, sexual content, racism.

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