Book Review: A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard

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When we think of romance novels, most people instantly think of those books your mom reads with the half-naked man on the cover with long flowing hair holding a pretty girl. This is not what A Quiet Kind of Thunder, by Sara Barnard, is about.

This contemporary novel follows Steffi, a girl in high school, who is selectively mute. Her mutism has evolved from her social anxiety and she can only speak around certain people, which includes her parents and her best friend, Tem. Steffi is introduced to a boy, named Rhys, at her school and finds out that he is deaf. Since she has had selective mutism since she was a child, she knows a little bit of British Sign Language (BSL) so she can communicate a little with this boy.

She becomes very close with this new kid even though her BSL is very rusty from not using it much. She slowly gets better with the sign language since she befriends Rhys and he talks to her through this language. There was a struggle at the beginning of their friendship, as she knew the basics of BSL but did not know some specific words which she would have to spell out or write down in order for Rhys to understand her. The language barrier would improve as she got to know him, but she also did some research of her own to better her BSL on her own time.

The two get very close and a romantic interest is sparked. Steffi’s father is supportive of their relationship, but her mother is another story. She is worried that Rhys is making Steffi’s world smaller and is making her less likely to talk in public, since she does not have to verbally talk to Rhys. Meanwhile, Steffi’s anxiety is slowly getting better, as Steffi had started medication to even her anxieties out at the beginning of the summer. She is talking in public, to a certain degree. She is not sure if this is the medication talking, or the fact that Rhys is doing the opposite of what her mom is saying; he is making her world bigger.

This novel has quirky ways to symbolize communication. Since there is a lack of spoken dialogue, the author cannot put their words into quotation marks. There are different forms of communication between Rhys and Steffi such as BSL, texting, instant messaging, and writing notes. There are also lists that appear throughout the book, Steffi makes lists to keep her thoughts organized, for example; “How To Care For Your Drunk Friend” and “Lists of Diagnoses.”

I really enjoyed this contemporary romance. This is something that I could really get into because it was not overly descriptive and had a lot of dialogue to keep the ball rolling. This is one of the best love stories I have ever read. The connection between the two main characters is very realistic. You can feel the love that they have, and you are constantly rooting for their relationship. If you have any interest in contemporary books and teenage love stories, this is the book for you. It is extremely well written and the plot keeps you hooked until the very last word.

Barnard, Sara. A Quiet Kind of Thunder. New York, NY: Simon Pulse, 2018.