Shouting at the Rain

Shouting at the Rain

book

2020, Children's Books, Growing Up & Facts of Life

WISE
82%

WISE Score

4.7

Amazon

A weather-obsessed girl learns that families don't have to look 'regular' to be whole in this emotionally rich Cape Cod story.

Amazon4.7
Common Sense Media

Where to Read

Amazon
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Libby
Libby

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the kind of middle-grade book that sticks with you—not because of plot twists or magic systems, but because it gets the messy emotional reality of growing up in a non-traditional family. Delsie's journey from wishing for a 'regular family' to understanding that love matters more than structure is handled with real emotional intelligence.

The weather-tracking angle is clever without being gimmicky, and the Cape Cod setting (the year-round community, not the tourist version) adds texture. The friendship with Ronan gives both kids someone who understands loss without needing to explain it.

This isn't a light read—kids dealing with similar family situations might find it either deeply validating or a bit too close to home. But for the right reader at the right time, it's a book that says 'your family might look different, and that's actually okay' without being preachy about it. Solid choice for thoughtful readers who like character-driven stories.

Age Fit

Best for ages 9-13, especially kids ready for emotionally complex realistic fiction. The themes are mature (parental abandonment, economic hardship, grief) but handled in a middle-grade appropriate way. Younger readers might need support processing the heavier emotions.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
88

Models healthy emotional processing through Delsie's journey of understanding her non-traditional family structure. Shows kindness through Grammy's caregiving and neighbor support. Tackles complex feelings (anger vs. sadness, abandonment vs. love) in age-appropriate ways. The multigenerational family dynamic and friendship with troubled Ronan demonstrate empathy and cooperation without being preachy.

Imaginative
72

Delsie's weather-tracking hobby provides a creative lens for understanding emotions and life changes. The Cape Cod adventures with Ronan offer exploration and discovery. The metaphor of weather patterns as life patterns invites readers to think symbolically. However, this is primarily a realistic contemporary story rather than fantasy or world-building, so imagination comes more from perspective-shifting than fantastical elements.

Safe
92

No sexual content, violence, or graphic material. Deals with emotionally heavy themes (parental absence, feeling abandoned, loss) but in a developmentally appropriate middle-grade way. Common Sense Media and parent reviews confirm no content warnings. The emotional weight is the main consideration—some kids may find the themes of longing for absent parents sad, but it's handled sensitively.

Enriching
85

Strong emotional intelligence lessons about processing difficult feelings and reframing family structures. Teaches empathy through Ronan's struggles and builds understanding of economic diversity (lower middle-class life in a resort town). The weather hobby adds STEM interest. Reviews highlight 'life lessons' and emotional richness. Helps kids understand that families come in many forms and that 'broken' vs. 'whole' is about perspective.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Tackles the 'what is a real family?' question with nuance—kids raised by grandparents, absent parents, economic struggles—without making it an After School Special
  • Delsie's weather tracking is a genuinely cool hobby that doubles as emotional metaphor without being heavy-handed
  • The friendship between Delsie and Ronan (both dealing with loss and change) feels authentic and supportive
  • From the author of Fish in a Tree, so you know the writing handles learning differences and kid struggles with care
  • Cape Cod setting is refreshingly non-touristy—shows the year-round community and economic realities
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What to Watch For

  • Heavy themes of parental absence and abandonment—if your kid is dealing with similar family stuff, this could be therapeutic or triggering depending on where they are emotionally
  • The 'wishing for a different family' storyline might sting if you're a grandparent raising grandkids or in a non-traditional setup
  • Some kids find the pacing slow—this is character-driven realistic fiction, not action-packed adventure
  • The resolution is about acceptance and perspective-shifting, not about parents suddenly showing up

Conversation Starters

  • "Delsie uses weather to understand her feelings. What helps you figure out what you're feeling when things are confusing?"
  • "Do you think there's such a thing as a 'regular family'? What makes a family feel like home?"
  • "Ronan has dealt with some really hard losses. How do you think that changes how he sees the world?"
  • "Delsie realizes she's been angry when she thought she was just sad. Have you ever mixed up your feelings like that?"
  • "The book talks about being 'abandoned versus loved.' Can you feel both at the same time about the same person?"

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