A Sudden Storm
Bali Rai author David Shephard illustrator Andy Gellenberg illustrator
Format:Paperback
Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers
Published:5th Oct '23
Should be back in stock very soon
An innocent night out to celebrate a sixteenth birthday turns to tragedy in this powerful story of racial intolerance from award-winning author Bali Rai.
It’s Arjan’s sixteenth birthday and he’s celebrating with his mates – going to see a film and then get a Nando’s. He’s looking forward to some good banter and wondering what might happen with Jem, who’s been looking at him differently these days …
But the night comes to a dramatic and violent end when Arjan is targeted by a group of racist thugs, who single him out due to the colour of his skin and the turban that he wears as a symbol of his commitment to his faith and culture.
Is the life of a good friend and beloved son really worth so little?
Please note that this book contains mature content (with themes of racially motivated violence) and language that some may find offensive.
"Bali Rai’s storytelling is both raw and compelling … serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of prejudice and the importance of empathy. This novella is not just a story; it’s a call to action, encouraging readers to think critically about their own beliefs and attitudes toward others." — Wordy Witterings, blog
"Powerful and heart-breaking … Bali Rai … forces the reader to think. A Sudden Storm will stay with you long after you have turned the last page – a fantastic, important and unfortunately necessary read." – Librarian
"God does it pack a punch … I struggled to reconcile those feelings of such anger with how well-written and beautiful the story is … I highly recommend this one." — Richmond Libraries, The Current: Coming of Age – YA book recommendations by librarians
“With a heart-wrenching and devastating portrayal of systematic racism this book will stay with the reader for a long time … Accompanied with stunning black and white illustrations by David Shepherd which help bring this story to life.” – Little Blog of Library Treasures
ISBN: 9781800902534
Dimensions: 198mm x 130mm x 8mm
Weight: 120g
72 pages