There will be storms in everyone’s life. It’s how we deal with them that reveals their true impact. Storm Child by Ele Fountain challenges readers to reflect on the storms in their own lives and what is truly important to them.
With short chapters, high-stakes action and a clear voice, readers are right in the water with surf-loving Maya. At 14 years old, she is thoughtfully mature and takes responsibility in her family but still makes some of those typical young teen mistakes like forgetting her phone, coming home late and feeling like she can’t talk to her parents about how she feels. She’s caught in that time of having very little control over the major decisions in her life despite having big opinions and lots of questions. The only place she feels right is out in the waves with her friends.
Usually, Maya is pretty good at fixing things but when she breaks her surfboard and her wetsuit gets too small, she knows there’s a much bigger problem. Despite owning the headland and a beautiful house, money is tight. Dad isn’t making the large fishing catches he used to and Mum’s baking business doesn’t bring in much extra. When Dad takes a risk and tries for a huge catch, the incoming storm changes everything.
Maya’s parents reaction to the storm is to start again on a tropical island on the other side of the world. Far from her friends, surfing and her beloved home, Maya can’t settle. She feels lonely and so homesick.
A new friend teaches Maya the horrible truth about human impact on the natural world – the breaking down of coral reefs, plastic in the oceans, fishing nets strangling wildlife, beaches covered in rubbish and building developements destroying nature. Paradise is being lost and so many people don’t seem to care.
As more storms come her way, Maya learns the consequences of her actions as well as their power. Maybe she can fix things afterall.
Storm Child is a gripping yet reflective story about discovering who we are and what’s important to us. Where’s our paradise and what will we do to protect it? It challenges readers to think about their own journey and the impact of the decisions they make. It is a story of friendship and how we relate to each other – espeically in those tricky early teen years – and how the invisible elastic between parents and their children stretches as independence grows (whether we’re ready for it or not).
The environmental themes are honest and clear. Readers will see the direct impact of human actions across the globe. What we do here impacts oceans and animals on the other side of the world. Readers are challenged to think of themselves as global citizens and take responsibility for their actions.
Ele Fountain’s writing is notorious for leaving readers thinking about the story long after the book has closed. Storm Child is no different. There is so much to consider with endless opportunities for discussion. It will be a wonderful class read for Upper Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3.
Thank you to Pushkin Children’s for an early copy of this stunning book!
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