Shouting at the Rain

Written by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Narrated by Lisa Cordileone

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Fish in a Tree comes a compelling story about perspective and learning to love the family you have.

Delsie loves tracking the weather--lately, though, it seems the squalls are in her own life. She's always lived with her kindhearted Grammy, but now she's looking at their life with new eyes and wishing she could have a "regular family." Delsie observes other changes in the air, too--the most painful being a friend who's outgrown her. Luckily, she has neighbors with strong shoulders to support her, and Ronan, a new friend who is caring and courageous but also troubled by the losses he's endured. As Ronan and Delsie traipse around Cape Cod on their adventures, they both learn what it means to be angry versus sad, broken versus whole, and abandoned versus loved. And that, together, they can weather any storm.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
• Release date: May 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9780525494089

Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Lynda Mullaly Hunt enseñó en tercer y sexto grado durante casi diez años. También forma parte del grupo Future Problem Solvers Screnario Writing. Aunque actuamente escribe a tiempo completo, extraña dar clases. Lynda vive en Nueva Inglaterra con su esposo y sus dos hijos.

Reviews for Shouting at the Rain

[jennybeast · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not a bad book at all -- excellent grandmother, very eccentric and delightful chosen family of neighbors. Wild, barefoot Delsie is starting to want to know more about her absent mother (left because she couldn't fight her alcoholism). Best friend outgrows her and hooks up with a mean girl, so there's some pretty intense bullying that Delsie handles fairly well. New friend, Ronan, has his own abandonment issues, having been sent to live with his father, who he doesn't really know. It's a solid read, and a good coming of age, but doesn't feel like it's offering much new to the genre.

[ldecher-918638 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book. It's so gooooooood. :)

It made me want to be Delsie or be Delsie's friend and go on adventures all around Cape Cod. As always, Lynda Mullaly Hunt delivers the goods when it comes to friendships. The challenge of losing a friend was so well done and the slow joy of discovering a new friend was so true and satisfying. I loved Granny, the family next door, and the neighbor with the heart of gold. The adults in this book aren't perfect. That's part of what makes them inspiring role models and encouraging mentors. And excellent friends.

What I liked most about this book? The challenges and joys are exactly the right size for 9 to 12 year olds.

Highly recommended!

[sweetiegherkin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Note: mild spoilers ahead in this review.

Delsie is looking forward to another carefree summer on her home base of Cape Cod, but two new children on the Cape bring unexpected changes. 'Mean girl' Tressa drags Delsie's friend Brandy down with her, while 'bad boy' Ronan might be more than meets the eye. Meanwhile, Delsie's other two close friends are doing a summer theater rendition of "Annie," and the musical's story of orphaned children has Delsie thinking about her own family situation -- her mother left years ago, and Delsie lives with her grandmother. As much as Grammy is a loving caregiver, Delsie can't help thinking about the mother she never really met and wonder if she'll ever be a part of Delsie's life...

To start off, I will note that I really enjoyed Hunt's Fish in a Tree, so my expectations were incredibly high for this book. It started off strong but I felt it meandered a bit in the middle. The plotlines about changing friendships and loyalties are always good ones with the targeted audience, as this is often what is happening in their own lives. The storyline about Delsie's mother seemed strong but it kind of petered out; the author herself notes this whole book is about finding your family, even if they aren't blood kin, but it feels like that thesis could have been supported better. Meanwhile, the middle parts of Delsie and Ronan going out to sea on various excursions felt longer than needed to make the point that they were becoming friends. And Henry's whole subplot of having been in prison felt so out of place with the rest of the book and far more excessive of an example than was needed for 'actions have consequences' and 'be a good person.' (Not to mention, Delsie's relief that Esme and Henry would take her in if something ever happened to Grammy is completely negated by this revelation, unless child protective services in Massachusetts are extremely relaxed.) Hunt also starts relying on some really trite phrases in the latter part of the book, such as Grammy's revelation that Papa bought her a wheel necklace "because of the shape--how it goes round and round and never ends. Like his love for me." Maybe the target audience of young readers won't roll their eyes at this because they haven't heard it at every wedding they've attended, but I sure did.

There are some attempts at diversity within the book beyond Delsie's familial situation. Esme is from St. Croix originally, Ruby needs glasses at a young age, and Ronan's family has at least some Portuguese roots; he also has parents who are divorced or separated (not clear which). The author's note mentions how several character names are actually anagrams that say something about their natures; readers can try and puzzle these out before searching out the answers that the author provided online. The audiobook narrator for this title did a good job with the various character voices and creating appropriate tension and emotion where needed.

All in all, a solid read that entertains and touches the heart in places, but not as good as I was hoping it would be, not quite living up to the promising start it had.

[carriewuj · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this in preparation for Lynda Mullaly Hunt's visit to our school. What a treat! She really has a pulse on the intense feelings that go with adolescence - the insecurity, the searching for identity, the desire to be seen and understood -- all conveyed in beautiful prose that doesn't pander or stereotype. Delsie is a Caper - a year-round resident of Cape Cod, living with her Grammy who cleans houses, missing her Mom who left when Delsie was little, and her Poppa who died in the last couple years. At age 12, Delsie has become hyper-aware of her unconventional life and more than ever wants to know more about her Mom and why she isn't part of Delsie's life. Grammy is a rock of wisdom and love, but Delsie is testing those foundations as she stands on the cusp of her teen years. It is summer, and Delsie has eagerly awaited the return of her friend Brandy, but this year, a new girl has wormed her way into the friendship. Also arriving for summer is Ronan, a boy who wears black in the heat of summer and seems to cause trouble wherever he goes. He and Delsie become friends as they each learn that appearances are deceiving and family is what you make of it. It is a beautiful story about letting go, weathering storms, finding true friends and accepting the love of people you do have rather than wishing for those you don't. There are moments here that pierce right to the heart of things and words that leave a lasting impact. A must read for any tween in your life - and a perfect parent-kid book to share.

[jmoncton_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a heartwarming middle-grade story about Delsie, a girl who lives with her grandmother on Cape Cod. Delsie is excited to have a fun summer with Brandy whose family rents a house on the Cape each summer. But the summer does not turn out as expected because Brandy feels like she has outgrown Delsie and becomes friends with another girl who bullies Delsie. But being bullied is just one of the issues in Delsie's life. Her Grammy cleans motel rooms for a living and everyone seems to be reluctant to tell Delsie what happened to her mother and even, who is her father.

This story really handles some of the tough social issues of middle graders -- feeling left out, being teased, etc. -- but also subtly introduces some conflicts of class. Brandy and her new friend Tressa aren't locals. Their families are well off and can afford not only to vacation on the Cape, but also to buy things like fashionable sunglasses or pedicures. For Delsie's grandmother, money is definitely tight, so there is a subtle message about social class in this story. What really impressed me about this story was the complexity and depth of the characters. It would be easy for Tressa to be a typical snob and bully, but there are some subtle nuances to her character that make her much more interesting. This is definitely a winner for middle-grade girls.

[salsabrarian · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Delsie, never knew her parents. She is raised by Grammy, who cleans the Seaside cottages. They are part of the modest, downnscale residents of Cape Cod compared to the summer renters. Their neighbors: Olive (a grumpy busybody) and Henry, Esme and daughter Ruby. Delsie wishes Esme and Henry were her parents; she is very fond of them both. Drinks tea with Esme. Brandy and her mother are summer renters, Delsie’s BF, although this summer she seems no longer interested in building fairy houses or ruining her manicure. Overall a book that can be hopeful and revealing of truths for the target audience. At end, author reveals that character names are all anagrams that relate to the character.

[donnamariemerritt · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a charming story that my fourth and fifth grade library students will enjoy. It's about friendship, how you view your life, understanding others, family dynamics, neighborhoods, a range of emotions, and knowing when it's time to stand up for yourself and move on.

Delsie's mom left when she was young and her grandfather has died (her dad is not mentioned; not sure why). Grammy's great, but is it wrong of Delsie to envy families with moms and dads? And why is her best friend forever suddenly going along with a spiteful bully? And who is this angry new kid in town, Ronan? Much to sort out, but Delsie figures things out, bit by bit, coming to know herself and others better in the process.

The setting is the Cape and I'm always hungry for descriptions of one of my favorite places. There's a reference to a sunfish similar to a poem in one of my books. I know the feeling of encountering one!

However, with Lynda Mullaly Hunt being such a talented writer, I was confused that she resorted to so many cliches (ants in my pants, hung the moon, tick ready to pop, like peanut butter and jelly)—and those examples occur within the span of two pages. She has many original similes and metaphors and I wish she had stuck with those throughout as her creativity made me smile. But when Delsie says she and Ronan are like tea bags ("in hot water, we just get stronger and stronger"), I cringed, knowing most kids won't recognize it as a paraphrased Eleanor Roosevelt quote because no credit is given to her.

And I wondered how an expert on weather, Delsie, had no idea a huge storm was coming. In fact, the meteorologists don't mention a monster storm until the morning it's due. Not likely in this day and age of weather forecasting.

Also, everyone seems too wise. The dialogue doesn't ring true in many instances for me.

A few loose ends, too—Delsie is training for a 5K, but that never materializes.

Still, I don't think elementary and middle grade readers will notice those things and it's a strong story overall. Hunt's "Dear Readers" section at the end revealed a surprising fact: "Each speaking character's name is an anagram about the character's personality, life, secret, or a trait they have." How cool is that? Readers will want to go back to try to decipher each one.

And the last chapter made me cry. Always a plus!

Finally, this part of Hunt's acknowledgments got to me:
"Teachers and librarians: Those of you who take the Ronans of the world under your wing, realizing that their anger is often a mask for frustration, sadness, and heartbreak, I thank you. With love, respect, and high expectations, you save these kids."

[sgrame_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When a friend asks one day what it feels like to be an orphan, all of a sudden Delsie feels a loss she hadn't realized before. Her Grammy had taken care of her for as long as she could remember, and alone since her grandpa had died. Grammy works cleaning cottages at Cape Cod, and all of a sudden when Delsie's best friend Brandy comes back for the summer, she finds that now Delsie isn't quite good enough, anymore- the new girl Tessa has taken over as Brandy's friend and belittles Delsie every chance she gets. But luckily there's a new kid in town- Ronan who is working through issues of his own and is just a decent kid- just what Delsie needs right now. And neighbors can help make quite a difference, too. Good for grades 4-6.