Rolling Thunder (Review #2), written by Kate Messner, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Kemp W.
Summary: Rolling Thunder, by Kate Messner, is a touching lyrical piece about the Rolling Thunder Freedom Ride where motorcyclists ride down to Washington DC every year in order to pay tribute to prisoners, war dead, and those in the armed forces. The storybook begins by outlining why each member of the family rides. The main character is a young boy, that accompanies his grandfather to Washington DC to support his uncle that is in the Air Force, while his grandfather rides to honor the friends he lost in Vietnam. The main character and his grandfather spend the night camping in Washington DC, and then they visit the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial to honor those that lost their lives in the armed forces. The book ends with a poignant request to remember all those that served.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book would be useful in a study of the contributions of the armed forces to the safety of the country. The entire book is a tribute to the men and women that serve, and is a good book to emphasize civic responsibility. The mood of the storybook is one of quiet reflection and gratitude to those that served. It also touches on some historical events, that could be useful to teach in conjunction with this book. An investigation of the oft-forgotten Vietnam war could be useful to accompany this book. There could likewise be a discussion about the various ways that people cope with loss and tragedy, like the loss of friends and family in a wartime environment. The entire book is illustrated in what looks to be colored pencil, all drawn in a soft style with warm colors throughout the book. This creates a comforting mood to accompany the themes of nostalgia and remembrance. Overall, this children's storybook is something that could be read to anyone old enough to understand service and sacrifice.