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85th out of 281 books
—
436 voters
A Thunderous Whisper
by
Christina Diaz Gonzalez (Goodreads Author)
Ani believes she is just an insignificant whisper of a 12-year-old girl in a loud world. This is what her mother tells her anyway. Her father made her feel important, but he's been off fighting in Spain's Civil War, and his voice in her head is fading. Then she meets Mathias. His family has just moved to Guernica and he's as far from a whisper as a 14-year-old boy can be....more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
October 9th 2012
by Knopf
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Historical Fiction
309 pgs
Ani lives in Guernica. She's a girl who's pretty much invisible to everyone, except her father. But her father went off to fight in Spain's Civil War. Then she meets Mathias, who recently moved to Guernica. Mathias is nowhere near invisible, and soon Ani finds out that his father is part of a spy network. Ani and Mathias find themselves delivering messages to other members of the resistance. Everything seems just fine, until the bombing. Nazi airplanes bomb the sleepy li...more
309 pgs
Ani lives in Guernica. She's a girl who's pretty much invisible to everyone, except her father. But her father went off to fight in Spain's Civil War. Then she meets Mathias, who recently moved to Guernica. Mathias is nowhere near invisible, and soon Ani finds out that his father is part of a spy network. Ani and Mathias find themselves delivering messages to other members of the resistance. Everything seems just fine, until the bombing. Nazi airplanes bomb the sleepy li...more
Ani hates being "Sardine Girl." Her mother says she is just a whisper in a loud world, but Ani isn't satisfied with that. She wants to make a difference. And one day, she meets a boy name Mathaias who'll help.
The two work together to help in the fight against the Germans by delivering messages. That is, until the Germans bomb their town and Ani's mom and Mathias's parents are killed. Now all Mathias wants is to get back at the Germans, and Ani isn't sure that's the kind of "difference" she'd lik...more
The two work together to help in the fight against the Germans by delivering messages. That is, until the Germans bomb their town and Ani's mom and Mathias's parents are killed. Now all Mathias wants is to get back at the Germans, and Ani isn't sure that's the kind of "difference" she'd lik...more
Ani has trouble fitting in at school in her town of Guernica in 1937 because she is the daughter of the local sardine seller and always smells of fish. Her mother is demanding and unpleasant, but hardworking. Her father is off serving as a cook on the front lines during the Spanish civil war, so the two have to work even harder just to survive. When Ani meets Mathias, whose family has moved from Berlin because his mother is Jewish, she finds it hard to believe that he really wants to be her frie...more
Cover Blurb: Yes or No? Despite the character impersonator, I do like the cover. It's simple and not all that exciting, but it indicates a possible historical fiction, and the map indicated - to me, at least - a possible WWII novel.
Characters: Ani wasn't bad. At first, I didn't especially like her, because she was too quick to take offense to even the most gentle teasing, which gave her a bad temper and something akin to The Attitude. She doesn't exactly improve as the story progresses, and she...more
Characters: Ani wasn't bad. At first, I didn't especially like her, because she was too quick to take offense to even the most gentle teasing, which gave her a bad temper and something akin to The Attitude. She doesn't exactly improve as the story progresses, and she...more
Often, I'll read historical fiction with some knowledge of the era or event, but in this case, I didn't know anything about the bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War and what happened to the thousands of orphaned children after the attack. How wonderful to have learned some history while reading about Ani and Mathias, two easily likable characters who are loners for different reasons. Mathias's family often moves, and Ani is teased for being the sardine seller's daughter. They become...more
This is one of the best historical fiction books I've ever read. At times, it felt like I was right next to Ani and Mathias in Spain. Christina Diaz Gonzalez writes with beautiful detail, that it creates perfect imagery. I loved how she added words from Spanish and Basque languages; it made me feel more connected to what I was reading. There were parts with action and adventure, but also mystery, friendship, and love. I could relate to Ani at times in the book, because sometimes I don't have a l...more
This was a great book! It is a must read historical fiction! I especially loved how the author described Ani's surroundings in great detail. It is fast paced and a real page turner. I would recommend this book to you if you would like to learn a little, laugh a little and maybe even cry a little. It is a very mixed emotions book with lots of different world events. Also, you even learn a little more about what it's like to live during World War II, and even getting bombed and the aftermath. As A...more
I need to give a standing ovation to Christina Diaz Gonzalez. She managed to deliver a story in such a way that I thought impossible.
"A Thunderous Whisper" is a story about war. From previous books about wars I read before like the Book Thief or Code Name Verity, even though a story depicting war was deep, it's always heart wrenching. Finishing the books, I've always felt drained and slightly depressed. Because of that, I can't think how to make a story about war that is deep without it ended up...more
"A Thunderous Whisper" is a story about war. From previous books about wars I read before like the Book Thief or Code Name Verity, even though a story depicting war was deep, it's always heart wrenching. Finishing the books, I've always felt drained and slightly depressed. Because of that, I can't think how to make a story about war that is deep without it ended up...more
Ani is twelve, and the world around her is falling. Though she believes she is safe in her small village, she is very lonely for her father, who has gone off to war. She has no friends and her mother is a hard working woman with little time to mother Ani. Then Mathias comes along and they form a strong friendship, an important bond, which is needed during these war times. Because war comes for them and their lives are changed forever.
Thank you, Christina Diaz Gonzalez. The last few books I've re...more
Thank you, Christina Diaz Gonzalez. The last few books I've re...more
When the author saw Picasso's famous painting, Guernica, she wanted to learn more about this sad period in Basque history in the 1930s,and about her own Basque heritage. The protagonist Ani believes she is insignificant,and is reminded about this when she's teased by her classmates, who call her the Sardine Girl, and by her own mother who is preoccupied trying to earn a living while her husband, Ani's father, is away fighting in the Spanish Civil War.
Ani meets a new boy, Mathias, who she learns...more
Ani meets a new boy, Mathias, who she learns...more
Ani lives in the small town of Guernica, with her Mother and Father. She goes out every day to sell sardines with her Mother, who makes a living at it. Ani is teased and ridiculed by her classmates, has no friends and desperately misses her Father who is fighting in the Spanish Civil War that is raging around her. Also going on at this time is WWII, so Ani and her neighbors also gave to worry about being bombed by the Nazis. When Mathias moves to town with his parents who take over management of...more
Oct 09, 2012
Best
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
netgalley,
ebook,
historical,
read-in-2012,
middle-grade,
young-adult,
ww2,
to-review,
arc,
2point5-stars
(This review is also posted on B's Book Blog!)
No matter how loud the world gets, sometimes a single voice can be heard.
I was first interested in this book because it's about World War II, and because someone said it is like The Book Thief, which is my number 3 most favorite book of all time. And when someone makes a comparison like this, I couldn't help but feel the need to check this book out, as it could be the next best thing that would happen to me for all I knew.
But it wasn't. It's not...more
No matter how loud the world gets, sometimes a single voice can be heard.
I was first interested in this book because it's about World War II, and because someone said it is like The Book Thief, which is my number 3 most favorite book of all time. And when someone makes a comparison like this, I couldn't help but feel the need to check this book out, as it could be the next best thing that would happen to me for all I knew.
But it wasn't. It's not...more
This book was really amazing! It is an amazing story about a girl named Ani who is lonely and has no friends, and her story about life and the war. I loved this book because it made me realize that some people can have hard lives. This book had a lot of details that helped me believe it was more realistic. I was always hoping that Ani's father would come home and they would have a better life. This is a great historical fiction book that I recommend to everyone, even though it seems like a girly...more
Interesting book about the time, I had no idea, like many readers that this went on in Spain during WW2. IT was slow at times but inspiring in the end when Ani found her voice and who she was. Her mother grew on me, and you saw a small glimpse of her real feelings. I found the climax to be thought provoking and emotional. I appreciated that it is a Juvenal fiction and as such was not too wordy describing the scene around you, but clearly explained what had happened. I hope to have my daughter re...more
Historical fiction during a unique time period and setting: Spain during their civil war in the 1930s. A Basque girl and a half Basque/half German boy meet and become friends. Then their small town of Guernica is bombed and both suffer terrible losses. Can they help each other to survive and move on? Based on experiences of the author's relatives. This is one that could easily inspire additional research. It starts off a bit slow, but keep going!
Gonzalez takes you into the 1930s, during the Spanish Civil War, to a town called Guernica where a young girl, Ani, lives. She feels she is invisible, with no friends and almost no free time. Throughout the novel Ani slowly grows into a self-confident, strong young woman with the help of Mathias, who becomes her best friend.
Easy to read, and easy to connect with, Gonzalez creates an almost magical world during a time of great unrest and terror in Spain.
Easy to read, and easy to connect with, Gonzalez creates an almost magical world during a time of great unrest and terror in Spain.
In 1937 Guernica, Spain readers are introduced to twelve-year-old Ani and fourteen-year-old Mathias during the Spanish Civil War. Ani has always been ridiculed and called “Sardine Girl” because she helps her mother sell sardines and smells like fish. As a result, she has never had friends.
http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.c...
http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.c...
Reviewed on blog - 10/22/12
Gonzalez does a great job of describing her setting. Guernica comes to life, especially the area around Ani's favorite tree, the schoolyard, and the beautiful old theater. Ani's character is also carefully written. She slowly comes out of her shell as she learns about herself. She is not suddenly brave and different but events reveal her inner self and we are taken along with her. Mathias, on the other hand, is more of a sketch of a boy with everything spelled out. We...more
Gonzalez does a great job of describing her setting. Guernica comes to life, especially the area around Ani's favorite tree, the schoolyard, and the beautiful old theater. Ani's character is also carefully written. She slowly comes out of her shell as she learns about herself. She is not suddenly brave and different but events reveal her inner self and we are taken along with her. Mathias, on the other hand, is more of a sketch of a boy with everything spelled out. We...more
I love historical YA, and since it's been a while since I've actually picked one up I'm very open to adding new ones to my wishlist. This is from the author of The Red Umbrella, a book I've been close to reading several times but still have not done so. :/ I don't quite get what's going on with this. I never did get to (N) American history...
look at that. isn't that ..?
yes, it is:
it's pan's labyrinth's ofelia played by ivana baquero with a nose job on the book cover!
yes, it is:
it's pan's labyrinth's ofelia played by ivana baquero with a nose job on the book cover!
This book is really good. And lives in Spain and she has no friends and she meets this kid named Mathias and they have many adventures in a war torn country. I would rate this book a 10 out of 10. This book has a lot of action and you can just picture everything in you're mind. This is the best book ever!!!
This was an interesting historical novel set in Guernica, Spain before the fateful bombing in the town by the Nazis in April 1937 and the aftermath of the disaster. Readers will want to know more about the historical events surrounding the story after finishing Ani's story.
Another historical winner! Ani is the kind of strong, resourceful heroine I love to root for. Beautifully-drawn characters and a piece of history readers won't soon forget.
a bbook about a gril during the holicast this book dos a nice job shoing teh other side of ww2 my farvet part of the book was wen ani the gril in the book bmets he soon to be best frend maithis.
Set during the Spanish Civil War
Historical thriller for ages 10 and up.
Ani, 12 year old, and her friend get involved in the resistance.
Historical thriller for ages 10 and up.
Ani, 12 year old, and her friend get involved in the resistance.
Unusual to find a setting in Basque Country. Enjoyed the story, writing, and culture lesson. Seemed to end abruptly.
A young girl's experience in Spain before, during and after the bombing of Guernica. Really great introduction to the Spanish Civil War and how it precipitated WWII as well as an engaging storyline and good characters.
If you liked THE BOOK THIEF, you'll like this one.
Complete review: http://litnerd.weebly.com/historical-...
Complete review: http://litnerd.weebly.com/historical-...
Jul 31, 2012
Carmen Gonzalez
marked it as to-read
can t wait for the release!
Perfect book
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Christina grew up in a small Southern town in the Florida panhandle, but she's always been in touch with her Cuban heritage. She loves having breakfast with pan cubano and Southern style grits-- the best of both worlds!
Her debut novel, The Red Umbrella (Random House/Knopf), is now available in paperback in bookstores everywhere. Her second novel, A Thunderous Whisper, is to be released October 20...more
More about Christina Diaz Gonzalez...
Her debut novel, The Red Umbrella (Random House/Knopf), is now available in paperback in bookstores everywhere. Her second novel, A Thunderous Whisper, is to be released October 20...more
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Apr 29, 2013 07:08am