Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt - ESSENTIAL

Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, 278 pages.  Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin), 2019.  $17.  

Content: Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G.  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ESSENTIAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH  

Delsie lives with her adorable grandmother on Cape Cod.  Delsie wonders why her mother left her and as she starts to experience friend troubles, she feels like she could really use some advice.  Delsie’s long time friend, Brandy, seems to think Delsie is too childish and Brandy has a new friend, Tressa.  Tressa does everything she can to make Delsie feel left out, so when a new boy comes to the Cape named Ronan, Delsie and Ronan slowly become friends.  

Regardless of how mean Tressa was, and no matter how complicit Brandy was while Tressa bullied Delsie, Delsie remained kind and true to herself.  Delsie is a great character whose story is heartbreaking but inspiring.  When life seems hard and Delsie is overwhelmed, she still manages to look for the good.  What a great message set up in an engaging read.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson.