A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard--Starting August 1st, 2021

[Dr. Andy]

Steffi doesn't talk, but she has so much to say.
Rhys can't hear, but he can listen.
Their love isn't a lightning strike, it's the rumbling roll of thunder.

Steffi has been a selective mute for most of her life - she's been silent for so long that she feels completely invisible. But Rhys, the new boy at school, sees her. He's deaf, and her knowledge of basic sign language means that she's assigned to look after him. To Rhys, it doesn't matter that Steffi doesn't talk, and as they find ways to communicate, Steffi finds that she does have a voice, and that she's falling in love with the one person who makes her feel brave enough to use it.

From the bestselling author of Beautiful Broken Things comes a love story about the times when a whisper is as good as a shout.

[Dr. Andy]

Ch. 3 (view spoiler)[ Okay this is off to a GREAT start. I love Steffi and I love Rhys. We already have a BIPOC character, now we just need a queer character and I can give this 6/5 stars lmao. I love how much I've learned about mutism already. I knew jack shit before. I relate to Steffi with the social anxiety though. I love Steffi and Tem's friendship!! (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Andy wrote: "Ch. 3 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I love Steffi and Rhys so far! Also Tem seems great and a beautiful friendship. Excited for this! (hide spoiler)]

50% (view spoiler)[ OMG I'm loving this book so much. Rhys and Steffi are so adorable and Rhys is exactly the kind of soft boy that I love to read about. (hide spoiler)]

75% (view spoiler)[ Stuff with Tem is....off. Hopefully that gets resolved. I don't know if lying about this trip is a good choice. I love these kids though I just want to protect them! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I loved this so much! I'm so glad I read it. I am very surprised there was so much sexual content in this though because it seemed kinda mature for the age of the rest of the writing, if that makes sense? IDk. I loved this book though! So glad Steffi and Rhys worked things out! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

ch. 11 (view spoiler)[ I'm worried about Tem and Karam. There's just been some super subtle things about their interactions that bother me. And I haven't even met him yet. I love Steffi and Rhys! They finally kissed omg so cute!! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

ch. 20 (view spoiler)[ I really love Steffi and Rhys together. I'm mad that Steffi's mom thinks she's living in a fantasy world. I'm glad Rhys talked to her about how she could sign while with Rhys in public so he can follow along. I was honestly worried Rhys meeting Steffi's mother was going to go horribly wrong but it was too bad tbf. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Finished! (view spoiler)[ I knew something would happen on the Edinburgh trip! Like I understand why they didn't tell anyone, but at the same time I wish they had. Also idk how to feel about the argument between Steffi and Tem. I think they both had valid reasons for how they interacted, but I'm glad they're going to work on it. I'm annoyed Karam cheated. Also I wish there had been more to Steffi and Rhys's reunion/speech thing. (hide spoiler)]