Shouting at the Rain

This is a heartwarming middle-grade story about Delsie, a girl who lives with her grandmother on Cape Cod. Delsie is excited to have a fun summer with Brandy whose family rents a house on the Cape each summer. But the summer does not turn out as expected because Brandy feels like she has outgrown Delsie and becomes friends with another girl who bullies Delsie. But being bullied is just one of the issues in Delsie's life. Her Grammy cleans motel rooms for a living and everyone seems to be reluctant to tell Delsie what happened to her mother and even, who is her father.

This story really handles some of the tough social issues of middle graders -- feeling left out, being teased, etc. -- but also subtly introduces some conflicts of class. show more Brandy and her new friend Tressa aren't locals. Their families are well off and can afford not only to vacation on the Cape, but also to buy things like fashionable sunglasses or pedicures. For Delsie's grandmother, money is definitely tight, so there is a subtle message about social class in this story. What really impressed me about this story was the complexity and depth of the characters. It would be easy for Tressa to be a typical snob and bully, but there are some subtle nuances to her character that make her much more interesting. This is definitely a winner for middle-grade girls. show less

I read this in preparation for Lynda Mullaly Hunt's visit to our school. What a treat! She really has a pulse on the intense feelings that go with adolescence - the insecurity, the searching for identity, the desire to be seen and understood -- all conveyed in beautiful prose that doesn't pander or stereotype. Delsie is a Caper - a year-round resident of Cape Cod, living with her Grammy who cleans houses, missing her Mom who left when Delsie was little, and her Poppa who died in the last couple years. At age 12, Delsie has become hyper-aware of her unconventional life and more than ever wants to know more about her Mom and why she isn't part of Delsie's life. Grammy is a rock of wisdom and love, but Delsie is testing those foundations show more as she stands on the cusp of her teen years. It is summer, and Delsie has eagerly awaited the return of her friend Brandy, but this year, a new girl has wormed her way into the friendship. Also arriving for summer is Ronan, a boy who wears black in the heat of summer and seems to cause trouble wherever he goes. He and Delsie become friends as they each learn that appearances are deceiving and family is what you make of it. It is a beautiful story about letting go, weathering storms, finding true friends and accepting the love of people you do have rather than wishing for those you don't. There are moments here that pierce right to the heart of things and words that leave a lasting impact. A must read for any tween in your life - and a perfect parent-kid book to share. show less

Note: mild spoilers ahead in this review.

Delsie is looking forward to another carefree summer on her home base of Cape Cod, but two new children on the Cape bring unexpected changes. 'Mean girl' Tressa drags Delsie's friend Brandy down with her, while 'bad boy' Ronan might be more than meets the eye. Meanwhile, Delsie's other two close friends are doing a summer theater rendition of "Annie," and the musical's story of orphaned children has Delsie thinking about her own family situation -- her mother left years ago, and Delsie lives with her grandmother. As much as Grammy is a loving caregiver, Delsie can't help thinking about the mother she never really met and wonder if she'll ever be a part of Delsie's life...

To start off, I will note show more that I really enjoyed Hunt's Fish in a Tree, so my expectations were incredibly high for this book. It started off strong but I felt it meandered a bit in the middle. The plotlines about changing friendships and loyalties are always good ones with the targeted audience, as this is often what is happening in their own lives. The storyline about Delsie's mother seemed strong but it kind of petered out; the author herself notes this whole book is about finding your family, even if they aren't blood kin, but it feels like that thesis could have been supported better. Meanwhile, the middle parts of Delsie and Ronan going out to sea on various excursions felt longer than needed to make the point that they were becoming friends. And Henry's whole subplot of having been in prison felt so out of place with the rest of the book and far more excessive of an example than was needed for 'actions have consequences' and 'be a good person.' (Not to mention, Delsie's relief that Esme and Henry would take her in if something ever happened to Grammy is completely negated by this revelation, unless child protective services in Massachusetts are extremely relaxed.) Hunt also starts relying on some really trite phrases in the latter part of the book, such as Grammy's revelation that Papa bought her a wheel necklace "because of the shape--how it goes round and round and never ends. Like his love for me." Maybe the target audience of young readers won't roll their eyes at this because they haven't heard it at every wedding they've attended, but I sure did.

There are some attempts at diversity within the book beyond Delsie's familial situation. Esme is from St. Croix originally, Ruby needs glasses at a young age, and Ronan's family has at least some Portuguese roots; he also has parents who are divorced or separated (not clear which). The author's note mentions how several character names are actually anagrams that say something about their natures; readers can try and puzzle these out before searching out the answers that the author provided online. The audiobook narrator for this title did a good job with the various character voices and creating appropriate tension and emotion where needed.

All in all, a solid read that entertains and touches the heart in places, but not as good as I was hoping it would be, not quite living up to the promising start it had. show less

Delsie McHill lives with her Grammy on Cape Cod; they're year-rounders, but summer has just started, and the summer people are back, including Delsie's friend Brandy. But this year, Brandy is more friendly with Tressa, who is mean to Delsie - and Brandy doesn't stand up for her. Delsie figures out to cut her losses, and instead becomes friends with a new boy, Ronan, and puts more effort into her friendships with Aimee and Michael, who are both in the Cape Playhouse production of Annie. Aimee, tactlessly, asks Delsie what it's like to be an orphan, which starts Delsie thinking more about family - born and made.

Quotes

"We are all jerks inside. And kind. And smart. We are all thoughtful AND inconsiderate. We are all polite AND rude. We are show more all everything." (Madam Schofield for Michael, 50)

"Well," Grammy says, "You either succeed or you learn. If it doesn't work out, you can handle it. You'll be sad, but you can handle it." (64)

...Grammy says you should always follow your heart. But it doesn't seem smart to follow something that is broken. (73)

[Clouds] get darker and darker as they collect more water molecules inside of them. Then when the moisture gets to be too much, and the cloud gets too heavy, they fall to earth as rain. I feel like that lately. Heavy. Like everything is building up and will end in some kind of storm. (84) show less

This is a charming story that my fourth and fifth grade library students will enjoy. It's about friendship, how you view your life, understanding others, family dynamics, neighborhoods, a range of emotions, and knowing when it's time to stand up for yourself and move on.

Delsie's mom left when she was young and her grandfather has died (her dad is not mentioned; not sure why). Grammy's great, but is it wrong of Delsie to envy families with moms and dads? And why is her best friend forever suddenly going along with a spiteful bully? And who is this angry new kid in town, Ronan? Much to sort out, but Delsie figures things out, bit by bit, coming to know herself and others better in the process.

The setting is the Cape and I'm always hungry show more for descriptions of one of my favorite places. There's a reference to a sunfish similar to a poem in one of my books. I know the feeling of encountering one!

However, with Lynda Mullaly Hunt being such a talented writer, I was confused that she resorted to so many cliches (ants in my pants, hung the moon, tick ready to pop, like peanut butter and jelly)—and those examples occur within the span of two pages. She has many original similes and metaphors and I wish she had stuck with those throughout as her creativity made me smile. But when Delsie says she and Ronan are like tea bags ("in hot water, we just get stronger and stronger"), I cringed, knowing most kids won't recognize it as a paraphrased Eleanor Roosevelt quote because no credit is given to her.

And I wondered how an expert on weather, Delsie, had no idea a huge storm was coming. In fact, the meteorologists don't mention a monster storm until the morning it's due. Not likely in this day and age of weather forecasting.

Also, everyone seems too wise. The dialogue doesn't ring true in many instances for me.

A few loose ends, too—Delsie is training for a 5K, but that never materializes.

Still, I don't think elementary and middle grade readers will notice those things and it's a strong story overall. Hunt's "Dear Readers" section at the end revealed a surprising fact: "Each speaking character's name is an anagram about the character's personality, life, secret, or a trait they have." How cool is that? Readers will want to go back to try to decipher each one.

And the last chapter made me cry. Always a plus!

Finally, this part of Hunt's acknowledgments got to me:
"Teachers and librarians: Those of you who take the Ronans of the world under your wing, realizing that their anger is often a mask for frustration, sadness, and heartbreak, I thank you. With love, respect, and high expectations, you save these kids." show less

Reviewed by Olivia, Grade 9

Shouting At The Rain is a great story for middle school students that is about family, friendships, and a fun-filled summer on Cape Cod. This story follows a 12 year old girl named Delsie who has always been fascinated by the weather and expresses a deep passion for learning about it. Delsie is thrilled when her friend Brandy is back on Cape Cod for the summer, but quickly becomes heartbroken when she finds out Brandy dumped her for another girl. Delsie wishes to have a mom to talk to, but hers left years ago, and her grandmother refuses to discuss her mother since she says it brings up painful memories for her. However, when a boy named Ronan appears on the Cod, Delsie finds herself experiencing less show more heartbreak and more adventure as she forms this new friendship with him. Throughout the summer, Ronan and Delsie find themselves getting tangled up into all kinds of situations, and learning how to open up and help each other. This book was a very wholesome story and had many full circle moments. I found it was a very cute summer read and had a good message about embracing change and being open to new experiences. I also really loved all the characters in this book and how they all had their own unique personalities that helped everyone seem like one big family on Cape Cod. I will say that for fans of books with dramatic plot twists, this book is kind of the opposite of that in which it has more of a humble and calm vibe and is more of a book about discovering yourself. However, this book definitely checked off all the boxes if you are looking for an easy and short, wholesome summery story about embracing and adapting to change. show less

Not a bad book at all -- excellent grandmother, very eccentric and delightful chosen family of neighbors. Wild, barefoot Delsie is starting to want to know more about her absent mother (left because she couldn't fight her alcoholism). Best friend outgrows her and hooks up with a mean girl, so there's some pretty intense bullying that Delsie handles fairly well. New friend, Ronan, has his own abandonment issues, having been sent to live with his father, who he doesn't really know. It's a solid read, and a good coming of age, but doesn't feel like it's offering much new to the genre.