kristenjane's review
4.0
Adorable and well-written; strong character development and cute for middle grades.
genevieve5's review
4.0
Really nice piece of historical fiction. Keeps the pages turning and will make you cry! This is also a great choice if you love history and are looking for a quick yet compelling read. Would recommend.
thebrainlair's review
5.0
Reviewed on blog - 10/22/12
Gonzalez does a great job of describing her setting. Guernica comes to life, especially the area around Ani's favorite tree, the schoolyard, and the beautiful old theater. Ani's character is also carefully written. She slowly comes out of her shell as she learns about herself. She is not suddenly brave and different but events reveal her inner self and we are taken along with her. Mathias, on the other hand, is more of a sketch of a boy with everything spelled out. We know who he is and what to expect from him, no surprises. This doesn't lessen our immersion into A Thunderous Whisper. The focus on the bombing of Guernica, what leads up to it and the aftermath, keeps us reading. A Thunderous Whisper adds a missing element to a study of World War II and would be a welcome addition to literature circle discussion
Gonzalez does a great job of describing her setting. Guernica comes to life, especially the area around Ani's favorite tree, the schoolyard, and the beautiful old theater. Ani's character is also carefully written. She slowly comes out of her shell as she learns about herself. She is not suddenly brave and different but events reveal her inner self and we are taken along with her. Mathias, on the other hand, is more of a sketch of a boy with everything spelled out. We know who he is and what to expect from him, no surprises. This doesn't lessen our immersion into A Thunderous Whisper. The focus on the bombing of Guernica, what leads up to it and the aftermath, keeps us reading. A Thunderous Whisper adds a missing element to a study of World War II and would be a welcome addition to literature circle discussion
rfulleman's review
4.0
I thought the story was interesting. It told of a time during the start of the Spanish Civil War which is something I've never read about before. The main characters are enduring, but there are a few loose ends that are not clarified by the end of the book. A good book to exemplify diversity and to give young readers a better understanding of what it means to be a refugee.
tsilverman's review
3.0
An interesting subject matter that I haven't read much about - the civil war in Spain. Unfortunately, the characters were all very flat and that made the little bit of plot uninteresting.
amdame1's review
3.0
Ani's mom sells sardines in order to make a living. When Ani isn't helping her mom sell fish, she's hanging out with her friend Matthias. However, WW2 is about to completely disrupt their lives.
3.5 stars
Tells about a place that isn't often covered in WW2 history. Characters are a bit stereotypical, plot is a bit predictable but still a good read overall.
3.5 stars
Tells about a place that isn't often covered in WW2 history. Characters are a bit stereotypical, plot is a bit predictable but still a good read overall.
beecheralyson's review
4.0
I really like Christina Diaz Gonzalez's books.
Check out my review here:
http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/2012/10/a-thunderous-whisper-blog-tour-book.html
Check out my review here:
http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/2012/10/a-thunderous-whisper-blog-tour-book.html
bookmaddie's review
4.0
Gonzalez takes you into the 1930s, during the Spanish Civil War, to a town called Guernica where a young girl, Ani, lives. She feels she is invisible, with no friends and almost no free time. Throughout the novel Ani slowly grows into a self-confident, strong young woman with the help of Mathias, who becomes her best friend.
Easy to read, and easy to connect with, Gonzalez creates an almost magical world during a time of great unrest and terror in Spain.
Easy to read, and easy to connect with, Gonzalez creates an almost magical world during a time of great unrest and terror in Spain.
More...