The Shape of Thunder
on Goodreads (5,242)
What’s inside...
Cora and Quinn, once best friends and neighbors, have been living in separate worlds of grief since a school shooting incident involving Quinn's brother and Cora's sister. On Cora's twelfth birthday, Quinn leaves a box on her doorstep with a note, proposing a plan to go back in time to prevent the tragedy. Despite her skepticism, Cora joins Quinn in trying to open a wormhole in the universe to save their siblings. As they delve into the mysteries of time travel, they discover that their rekindled friendship might hold the key to their own redemption. This touching novel by Jasmine Warga explores themes of grief, guilt, and the healing power of friendship.
Age
8-12
Length
275 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Cora
Quinn
Discussion points
How do you think Cora and Quinn’s friendship changed throughout the story?
What do you think the thunder represents in the book?
How do you think dealing with grief and guilt affected the decisions characters made?
In what ways do you think understanding and forgiveness play a role in the story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Highlight the emotions of the characters as you discuss, helping your child connect and empathize with their feelings.
Relate the themes of the book to personal experiences or current events to make the conversation more relevant.
Encourage your child to think about how they would react in similar situations as the characters, fostering critical thinking and personal connection to the story.
Promote an open environment where your child feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and emotions about the book’s themes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of coping with grief
Explanation: In 'The Shape of Thunder,' the characters navigate personal loss and the complex emotions that follow. The story illustrates the stages of grief and the importance of facing these emotions.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to express their feelings, seek support, and understand that grief is a natural response to loss, which can be applied when dealing with personal losses in their own lives.
Example Lesson: The value of friendship and communication
Explanation: The protagonists, Cora and Quinn, demonstrate how friendship can be strained but also strengthened by open communication, even during hard times.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to maintain open lines of communication with their friends and shows how discussing feelings can resolve conflicts and strengthen relationships.
Example Lesson: The impact of one's actions on others
Explanation: Throughout the book, choices made by the characters have far-reaching consequences, demonstrating the ripple effect of actions.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to consider the potential impact of their actions on others, fostering empathy and thoughtful decision-making in their daily interactions.
Example Lesson: Acceptance and forgiveness
Explanation: Cora and Quinn's journey shows the challenges and rewards of accepting reality and offering forgiveness to others and themselves.
Real-World Application: This can guide children in understanding the power of acceptance in overcoming adversities and the importance of forgiving others to heal emotional wounds.