Shouting at the Rain was written by the author of the New York Times bestseller Fish in a Tree. Delsi is a young girl who experiences the beginning, the end, and the evolution of friendship during her summer. This is a story of friendship – what one looks like as well as what one doesn’t look like. This story is also about finding family and a sense of belonging in uncommon places. Delsi and the other characters go through a process of determining what is important to them and who they want to be. 

Throughout the book there are overarching juxtapositions of the ocean, beach town life, and weather.  

This book would appeal to girls navigating friendships, both old and new. It has a similar feel to You May Already be a Winner by AnnDee Ellis. It is a great summer read.   

Review of an Advance Reading Copy

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Nancy Paulsen Books

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence/Gore:  Report of an adult having a heart attack and dying; crabs pinch; report of parent death; ; severe storm; threat of death; hooking eel through the eyes in fish hook; hook in fish mouth; reference to bones cracking; reference to no one dying making sauce; report of parent death; minor hits minor; minor pushes minor; bloody nose; report of individual using fists instead of words; report of individual going to jail for burglary and standing by watching while another individual was beaten up; scraped elbows and knees; threat of a shark; whales fought back after being harpooned; crushed ships – pulled underwater; minor threw a picture frame breaking it; report of a lot of fighting and stuff.

Sex/Nudity:  A few hugs; adults kiss on cheek.

Mature Subject Matter:

Parent abandonment; bullying.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Reference to woman living in the bottle; reference to woman drinking and drugging.