Mr.Ahmed Saleh 

Year 7,8 English Teacher

Quiet Storm by Kimberley Whittam

Quiet Storm by Kimberley Whittam is like a rollercoaster for your feelings! The main character deals with tough stuff but learns how to handle it with a little help from friends (and maybe some deep thinking). It’s a story about growing up, facing storms (not the weather kind!), and figuring out how to stay strong—and still laugh along the way!

I highly recommend Quiet Storm by Kimberly Whittam to our high school students because it is a heartfelt and empowering story that speaks to the challenges many young people face as they grow into their identities. Although Storm is naturally quiet and often overlooked, her journey shows that strength does not always come from being loud or popular; sometimes it comes from having courage, resilience, and a strong sense of self. The book explores important themes such as confidence, family expectations, friendship pressures, and the struggle to be seen and heard in a world that often rewards extroverts. Through Storm’s talent for running, students witness how personal passions can become pathways to self-discovery and empowerment. The story also highlights the emotional complexity of sibling relationships and the difficulty of finding balance when others unintentionally overshadow us. As an English teacher, I find this book valuable because it opens rich opportunities for discussion about self-expression, identity, perseverance, and the importance of recognizing and respecting different personality types within the classroom community. Quiet Storm encourages both quiet and outgoing students to reflect on how they communicate, how they support one another, and how each person’s unique voice contributes to a more empathetic and inclusive school environment. For these reasons, I believe this novel is a meaningful, relevant, and insightful read for our high school students.