ThunderBoom

In this short and engaging graphic novel, main character Logan doesn’t speak and communicates primarily via sign and body language. When he gets separated from his family while attending a parade, Logan turns into his alter ego, ThunderBoom, who successfully navigates scary new situations with imagination and bravery.

Briglio finds interesting ways for readers to connect with Logan. For example, Logan’s main fears are things that many readers may also fear (clowns, masks, dogs, unexpected noises, and unfamiliar situations), making that part of the story very relatable. Illustrator Claudia Dávila effectively makes visual links between the real and the imagined; when Logan (as ThunderBoom) is attempting to conquer his fear of the neighbour’s dog, the monster that he visualizes has elements of the actual dog. The same thing happens with the clowns at the parade, and it drives home the point that the fears Logan has are based on something real.

I appreciated the visual distinction between speech and interior monologue. While this may not be specific to this particular book, it is definitely important here. It clearly illustrates one of the main messages in the book, that being, a person’s inability to express themselves verbally is not an indicator of intelligence, creativity, or understanding. I liked that the author didn’t explain exactly why Logan wasn’t speaking (until the author’s note at the end). It prompted a very interesting discussion with one of my own children who borrowed the book before I got a chance to read it (typical, at our house!), I wasn’t prepared for the questions he had. My initial reaction was that perhaps the main character was deaf, but he determined, based on the fact that the other characters were speaking to Logan, that this wasn’t the case. We then discussed a variety of reasons why someone might not speak; it got me thinking about what a valuable tool this book could be in a classroom setting, to foster discussions about inclusion and empathy.

The publishing information indicates that ThunderBoom would be best for ages 9-12, but I would say it perhaps skews a bit young; while the lessons about understanding and empathy would certainly benefit any reader, the layout, text, and images feel like they are targeting a younger group. I can see ThunderBoom being a valuable addition to an elementary school library or to a personal collection.