When the Storm Comes – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Global warming, friendship, danger, self-confidence.
Children’s book title: When the Storm Comes.
Children’s author: Polly Ho-Yen.
Genre: Children’s fiction.
Published by: Knights Of.
ISBN: 9781915820068.
Recommended for children aged: 8+ year-olds.
First published: Paperback July 2025.
This children’s book is ideal for: anyone who enjoys an exciting, fast-moving adventure story, either to read alone or as a whole class.
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Our review:
Going to a new book club wasn’t Mali’s idea, but along with Jonesey, Fara and Petey, he had very little choice! Getting trapped there by rapidly rising flood waters, with no power, food or contact with the outside world, wasn’t in his plans either. Yet, along with their very pregnant teacher, the four students find themselves bedding down for the night in the library.
With no rescue team in sight and help urgently needed, the ability to leave the school becomes vital. But when all their ideas fail, it’s up to Mali to summon his courage and find a way to alert the emergency services to their plight.
Our verdict:
When the Storm Comes is an exceptional book. The writing is brilliant, and the tension, adventure, and jeopardy work well with the stories each student has to tell. Both the individual and the group are brought into sharp focus, and although none of them know each other very well, the realisation that they need each other leads to a deeper understanding of themselves and each other, all seen through Mali’s eyes.
The teacher and the school caretaker also emerge as individuals rather than simply figures of authority, and their stories spur the four main protagonists towards their goal. The ending is very satisfying, and it’s easy to imagine the friendships lasting, evolving and continuing throughout their school lives, at least.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- Mali’s full first name, Amaryllis, was given to him for a very special reason.
- Do you think shortening it was a good idea? Did his time trapped in the school help him accept that his name was something to be proud of, or do you think it just sped things up?
- All four students had special skills to help their situation. How surprised were you that their ideas didn’t work out more quickly?
- Did you understand the turmoil Mali puts himself through, both about his friendship with Shiyoon and his problems with Petey? Do you feel he understood himself much better by the end of the book?
- The comic book Suckers that Mali and Shiyoon created together became very important to Mali. How would you have reacted if you’d suddenly realised it was about to be destroyed?
- The demonstration at the end marked the beginning of a new stage in the four students’ relationship. In a cross-curricular activity with art, design a poster to advertise the sit-out. What would your slogan be, or would you use ‘There’s No Planet B’?
- Do you think the sit-out and similar real-life protests will help bring about change on the issue of global warming, which we all share responsibility for?
Many thanks to Knights Of for the review copy.
To order a class set of this book, please click below to order via uk.bookshop.org, an organisation that supports local bookshops, or Amazon.co.uk.
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