Customer Reviews

Silent Thunder

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A beautifully written book which is flawed by poor fact checking. Written in diary form, the diary entries are dated 1862 and mention battles (Vicksburg,1863, for instance) that did not happen until after the Emancipation Proclamation, which is the final scene in the book. Everything about the story is engaging. The characters are complex and the setting is beautifully described. But the chronology of the war is totally skewed. I am surprised that an award-winning writer and a large publishing house like Hyperion would not have caught such glaring factual errors. There is a wonderful bibliography at the end; unfortunately no civil war history sources are cited.

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.

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!

Although this historical novel has engaging characters, the whole premise of the book is historically inaccurate. If the story had taken place in 1863 instead of 1862, then the desire of Rosco to become a Union soldier might have been more credible. How could editors not check basic facts such as when Black solders were recruited for the Union Army and the date of the Battle of Vicksburg? I am mystified by the necessity of Rosco to travel by the Underground Railroad when Northern Virginia was full of Union troops. In 1862, American Americans who escaped from their masters fled to the protection of the Union Army where they became Contraband of War. Some of the contrabands subsequently became Union soldiers. Why would a slave go to Pennsylvania when it was a short trip to Union lines? I question the branding of the the Parnell slaves. Parnell is not portrayed as inhuman and at the time of the Civil War, branding was considered an atrocity. Felons, escaped slaves, or army deserters might be branded, but it seems unlikely in the story as presented. I also wondered about the geography of the book. From the map, bodies for a medical college at Winchester would have to be transported a long distance during wartime. It is upsetting that the book could receive good reviews from a number of prominent reviewers when it is so inaccurate. I am concerned that a story like this does more harm for children than good. In Virginia, we have Standards of Learning tests where children must know accurate history. They will not learn it from Silent Thunder.

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.

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.

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.

This item was shipped within the time frame given, but it took longer than anything I have ever ordered from Amazon. It took a week and a half to arrive.

This story tells about a brother and sister growing up during the time of the civil war. Read this book to see life from a slave childs perspective during war.

I read Silent Thunder. I thought it was a great book. Because you can learn about war and how most slaves got free. I think everyone who wants to learn about slaves and how to people got free. This book is based on a real story about a boy that is around 13 and an unidentified girl. I recommend it to kids around the age of 10 to 14.I think others that like civil war stories then take a peek or you should read it if you want a great and interesting book about action, thrill and sadness. If you want all of that stuff then you should read this great book.