Silent Thunder

by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Book Overview

Eleven-year-old Summer and her older brother Rosco each have a "silent thunder, " a desire that rumbles deep within them, refusing to be ignored. Summer longs to learn to read. Rosco is burning to fight for his Country and his freedom. But Rosco and Summer are slaves on Gideon Parnell's plantation in the year 1862, and for slaves, these desires are illegal and dangerous.Despite the danger and their mama's terrible fear of being sold off, Summer and Rosco are determined to fulfill their dreams. In stolen moments, Rosco teaches Summer all he has learned from eavesdropping on young master Lowell's lessons. In the meantime, Rosco secretly plans his own escape to the North, to join the Union forces. But when Gideon Parnell unexpectedly falls ill and the plantation is taken over by Parnell's cruel brother-in-law, Rosco's decision becomes more complicated. How can he leave his family now? And Summer, struggling to understand her mama's perplexing actions, discovers that Mama has a silent thunder of her own -- and secrets Summer never dreamed of.Through the voices of Rosco and Summer, this wrenching yet hopeful novel celebrates the triu

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786804394
• ISBN13: 9780786804399
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Jump at the Sun
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

good book!

I thought that this book was very very good. This book talks about a hard time for Africans and African Americans in a way that does not make you cry but makes you feel good that these people were able to make good out of their own lives.

Silent Thunder , A review by Lisa C.

This book tells of an exciting adventure about a 12-year-old slave, Summer, and her 13-year-old brother, Roscoe. They find out from a wise old slave named Thea, that everyone has a "silent thunder." Summer wants to learn how to read,which is forbidden, but Roscoe is still teaching her. Roscoe, along with his friend Clem, wants to run off to war. When their slave master becomes sick, they all have to come together to keep everything running. Then, when Missy Claire, the slave master's wife, has her brother come, Roscoe and Clem run away. The women are at a party, serving, and they don't find out until later. This book tells of an exciting adventure, even though I thought some parts moved along slow.

One of my favorites

This is one of my favorite books. I enjoy reading stories written from the perspective of children slaves. I liked the fact that she kept learning to read. She did what she knew she had the right to do and didn't let other people hold her down. This is a good book on the strength of the human spirit.

A book I couldn't put down

Searching for a book in my school's library. I did what anyone kid would do randomly picked a book of the shelf. It wasn't like what I thought it would be. I felt like I was in the book. I love how Andrea Davis portrays the characters, it really does make them seem real. The author really did her job on researching the facts for this book. She gave the characters such vivid description I felt like I knew them. It was creatively written. It was definetely a book I couldn't put down!

Compelling and uplifting

This book compellingly and convincingly creates the experienceof living under slavery and will deepen the ability of readers toimagine and understand some of the implications of that experience. The story is suspensefully told, and its turns and surprises will touch and move the reader. While the plot is borne by a backdrop of historic events, it is the humanity and the individual characters that are most important--the book shines with compassion, toward white characters as well as black. A complex and rewarding novel that fills the reader both with terrible sadness at the inhumanity that is part of our country's history and deep respect and admiration for those who were able to survive and transcend it.