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sharashnorma's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
4.5
thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
“I think the answer lies in figuring out the shape of time. And the shape of time is probably like the shape of thunder. We think it’s impossible to map, but that’s because we haven’t pushed our brains to think that way.”
⛈
Cora hasn’t spoken to her ex-best friend, Quinn in ten months. Quinn’s brother murdered Cora’s older sister in a school shooting on November 11, but on Cora’s birthday Quinn leaves a box on her porch. This box is the catalyst that starts with the two girls trying to find a wormhole so they can time travel and fix what happened that day. But throughout the process they remember what it’s like to love one another as well.
⛈
This middle grade novel wrecked me from just the synopsis. After reading Other Words For Home I knew this book would tear me up and I was right. Warga does an amazing job of discussing race, culture, gun control, racism all while putting it on a middle grade level. This book reminded me of Wishtree by Katherine Applegate and I highly recommend it for an all-class novel study for 4th grade and up when it releases on May 11. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. The Shape of Thunder is in a class of its own. I’m adding one more quote that stuck out at me below.
⛈
“It’s also messed up when white boys like Parker commit a violent crime, everyone tries to figure out why they did it. Me included. But when a black or brown kid does something like that, no one asks more questions. It’s like they expected it of them or something. That makes me really mad.”
⛈
Cora hasn’t spoken to her ex-best friend, Quinn in ten months. Quinn’s brother murdered Cora’s older sister in a school shooting on November 11, but on Cora’s birthday Quinn leaves a box on her porch. This box is the catalyst that starts with the two girls trying to find a wormhole so they can time travel and fix what happened that day. But throughout the process they remember what it’s like to love one another as well.
⛈
This middle grade novel wrecked me from just the synopsis. After reading Other Words For Home I knew this book would tear me up and I was right. Warga does an amazing job of discussing race, culture, gun control, racism all while putting it on a middle grade level. This book reminded me of Wishtree by Katherine Applegate and I highly recommend it for an all-class novel study for 4th grade and up when it releases on May 11. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. The Shape of Thunder is in a class of its own. I’m adding one more quote that stuck out at me below.
⛈
“It’s also messed up when white boys like Parker commit a violent crime, everyone tries to figure out why they did it. Me included. But when a black or brown kid does something like that, no one asks more questions. It’s like they expected it of them or something. That makes me really mad.”
emadlma's review against another edition
5.0
The Shape of Thunder was a wonderful, heartfelt middle grade story. The book is told from the perspectives of two former best friends, whose world's are shattered when one's brother kills the other's sister in a school shooting. The author slowly gives you details about the shooting but is not overly descriptive of the event rather focusing instead on the feelings and experiences of their siblings. All readers will be able to identify with the both characters' desire to go back in time and change what happened. This is a must add for all middle school libraries.
rachelwrites007's review against another edition
5.0
Ohhhh this book is so special and important. I'm so glad I got to read an ARC (thank you Jasmine Warga for the copy) and I'm so glad I made the decision to purchase this one to own it.
Cora and Quinn are struggling, ask big questions, want answers, and want to fix what broke them. Told in dual points of view, Cora and Quinn's story deals with gun violence, school shootings, loss, and grief. Warga does this without ever flashing back to the actual event. She does this without showing us any flashbacks of the characters who died that day or caused such pain. The beauty of this book is that it treats the subject with care and love, and also honesty. The adults don't have all the answers; they don't even have all the skills to make the situation better. The characters are flawed and real because of this.
This will be an important read for many classrooms, educators, librarians, teachers and parents.
Cora and Quinn are struggling, ask big questions, want answers, and want to fix what broke them. Told in dual points of view, Cora and Quinn's story deals with gun violence, school shootings, loss, and grief. Warga does this without ever flashing back to the actual event. She does this without showing us any flashbacks of the characters who died that day or caused such pain. The beauty of this book is that it treats the subject with care and love, and also honesty. The adults don't have all the answers; they don't even have all the skills to make the situation better. The characters are flawed and real because of this.
This will be an important read for many classrooms, educators, librarians, teachers and parents.
georgiageis's review against another edition
5.0
This is the third book by Jasmine Warga I have read and thoroughly loved. Each of them (Other Words for Home, My Heart and Other Black Holes and The Shape of Thunder) represents hope for me. Warga tackles the most difficult and often heart breaking topics in such a way that I always walk away feeling a sense of renewed hope and appreciation for humanity.
literaryk's review against another edition
4.0
Warga did an excellent job portraying a very difficult situation. This would be an excellent story for people to explore grief and the aftermath of a tragedy. There's representation and a lot of good points made about the feelings surrounding school shootings. Fairly quick read and not too heavy despite the subject.
angiedkelly's review against another edition
5.0
Powerful middle-grade novel told from two perspectives of families after a shared tragedy. Very well told in encompassing the anguish, the guilt and the desire to just have things the way they were before. Heartfelt and true.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
rikkir77's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this book. It’s definitely a heart wrenching story from both girls’ point of view. Hits on some heavy topics like anti-Muslim, school shootings, and depression. But it also covers friendship, communicating and time travel! Great book.
donnereads's review against another edition
This book was a little slow for me, but I felt for the characters from the beginning and thought it was very beautifully written. The ending of the book also made up for the lesser parts because I was sobbing in a way I haven’t with any book for a while. This book attempts to talk about a very complex and difficult topic but did so beautifully and I’d love for more people to read this book and to be able to have conversations about it.
rachelannak's review against another edition
5.0
This story broke my heart and absolutely wrecked me. It was hard to read because of how beautifully it is written and how close it hits to home being a teacher. School shootings are too real and this novel does is poetic and honest about the impact of these shootings long after they happen.