The Shape of Thunder

“With taut pacing, nuanced characters, and compassionate depictions of grief and trauma, Warga’s novel is both timely and transcendent; a must-purchase for all collections.” — School Library Journal (starred review) “The story builds steadily toward a moving conclusion; Warga’s lyrical language and credible rendering of both middle school life and of the tensions of two families coping differently with personal devastation make for a perceptive, sensitively told novel about the effects of gun violence.” — Publishers Weekly “[Cora and Quinn] are well developed, and Warga skillfully handles both their delicate, emotional friendship and larger subjects of grief and gun violence. Powerful and emotionally complex.” — Kirkus Reviews “This will spark meaningful discussions.”  — ALA Booklist “Warga skillfully develops unique voices for her narrators, and the novel’s alternating-perspective structure works well. Emotions run high throughout the book without dragging down the plot, and the portrayal of middle-school life is utterly authentic.” — Horn Book Magazine “Warga limns a tale that downplays sensationalism while acknowledging the deep fear that many readers may carry regarding school shootings.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books “A beautiful story about the love that is possible even when the worst has already happened.” — Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medalist