<p>"This short but powerful read plunges you into the midst of Arjan’s sixteenth birthday, but a celebration full of hope for the future turns into a shocking tragedy. Inspired by true events, and with its themes of acceptance, racism and violence explored with care, this is a perfect read to get younger teens thoughtfully discussing ideas of tolerance and empathy. A dyslexia-friendly read, with emotive illustrations throughout, it makes an ideal transition text and is perfect for engaging more reluctant readers." — The Open University</p>
<p>"Bali Rai’s storytelling is both raw and compelling … serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of prejudice and the importance of empathy. This novella is not just a story; it’s a call to action, encouraging readers to think critically about their own beliefs and attitudes toward others." — Wordy Witterings, blog</p>
<p>"Powerful and heart-breaking … Bali Rai … forces the reader to think.<em> A Sudden Storm</em> will stay with you long after you have turned the last page – a fantastic, important and unfortunately necessary read." – Librarian</p>
<p>"God does it pack a punch … I struggled to reconcile those feelings of such anger with how well-written and beautiful the story is … I highly recommend this one." — Richmond Libraries, The Current: Coming of Age – YA book recommendations by librarians</p>
<p>“With a heart-wrenching and devastating portrayal of systematic racism this book will stay with the reader for a long time … Accompanied with stunning black and white illustrations by David Shepherd which help bring this story to life.” – Little Blog of Library Treasures</p>
<p>"A powerful but sad story to read. It was a brilliant, hard-hitting book, and well worth the time it took to read it." – Lancashire Book of the Year Award Student Judge</p>
<p>"It was dark, disturbing, and based on a real tragedy. It was a hard book to read but led to important discussions and conversations." – Lancashire Book of the Year Award Student Judge</p>