
Quiet Storm
Interest age: 12 to 14
Reading age: 9+
Published by Usborne, 2023
About this book
Do you hate reading aloud in front of other people? Or sharing your work with the class even when you know it’s good? Do you never put your hand up because you can’t stand everyone looking at you? Well, Storm feels exactly like that.
So far, she’s managed to navigate school by being a shadow to her best friend Zarrish but Zarrish seems to be moving on to new interests and friends and leaving Storm behind.
When Storm breaks the record for the fastest Year 7 sprinter her school has ever had, she has the chance to pursue something she really loves but can she find the courage to speak up and branch out?
Storm has to experience rejection, embarrassment and despair before she finally comes to realise that friends should pull one another up, not put one another down. It’s a passion for sport and the camaraderie that comes with being part of a team that eventually gives her a voice.
Anyone who has struggled with shyness will find much that is familiar in Storm’s story. The overriding message is that it’s OK to be scared but you shouldn’t let your fears stop you from chasing your dreams.
More books like this
-
Invisible Emmie
by Terri Libenson
9 to 12+ years
-
Can You See Me?
by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
9 to 12 years
-
Ella Jones vs the Sun Stealer
by Lucy Edwards and Katy Birchall, illustrated by Caroline Garcia
9 to 12 years
-
The Day My School Got Famous
by Jen Carney
9 to 12 years
Lists of recommended reads
-
Books to build confidence for ages 9 to teen
Many children are naturally prone to self-doubt, or might encounter situations that make them nervous. Stories about characters finding confidence can help young readers draw parallels in their own lives, while positive 'self-help' books can offer practical advice. This selection of fiction and non-fiction might help children aged from 8 to 13 build their confidence.