Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
A quiet kind of thunder
Sara Barnard
A quiet kind of thunder
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sara Barnard
The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
The soft rustle of fingers signing fills the quiet air, a secret language that whispers louder than words. Steffi can’t speak, but her heart is bursting with stories, and Rhys, who can’t hear, listens with his whole being. Together, they discover that sometimes the loudest voices come from the calmest places inside us.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This gently told novel explores the journey of Steffi, a young girl with selective mutism, and Rhys, a deaf boy, as they build a unique friendship through sign language. Suitable for early readers, the story thoughtfully addresses themes of anxiety, communication barriers, and self-acceptance, providing an empathetic look at disability and young love. Parents should note the portrayal of emotional challenges related to selective mutism and anxiety, handled with sensitivity.
Why we rated A quiet kind of thunder 8ME
A quiet kind of thunder is written at a Level 3-4 reading level with a Lexile measure of 680L across 390 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A quiet kind of thunder works for readers up to grade 5.5.
We rate A quiet kind of thunder as 8ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, A quiet kind of thunder explores love, deaf youth, friendship, identity & self-discovery, and disability representation — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about love, deaf youth, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781534402416
- Pages
- 390
- Publisher
- Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction
- Lexile
- 680L