Authors usually recommend writing about what you know and in this funny, warm middle-grade novel Sophie Beer has created an endearing main character who is suffering from a similar condition to her own. In 2016 Sophie was diagnosed with a benign tumour called an acoustic neuroma. Subsequent surgery resulted in her losing half of her hearing. However, in Thunderhead’s case the underlaying cause is genetic and there are tumours on both acoustic nerves. The upcoming surgery will result in losing almost all hearing and going deaf.
For most of the book, we don’t know Thunderhead’s name, just the username used for blogging and podcasting. Heart-wrenching posts about dreams of becoming a music journalist looking unlikely and much of the growing up angst that 12-year-olds face – finding out who your true friends are and making a mess of relationships – are poured out onto the blog so I became engrossed in Thunderhead’s journey towards brain surgery. Thunderhead’s love of music is shown in the playlists at the start of each chapter, the most moving one being ‘A playlist for the end of my hearing’.
Throughout the novel, small black-and-white framed drawings illustrate the text and at the end, after the surgery, instead of a written epilogue there are eight small vignettes showing Thunderhead’s post-surgery recovery. Changes to font size and type are also used for emphasis.
This is an amazing story about an unusual medical condition written with humour, empathy and love. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Lynne Babbage
Age Guide 9+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sophie Beer is an award-winning author/illustrator living in Brisbane. She rejoices in creating bright, funny books that centre equality, inclusion and kindness. Her books including Love Makes a Family have been printed all over the world in many languages and have sold close to one million copies. As an illustrator, she has worked with the likes of Disney, Google, The Guardian and The Boston Globe.
As a writer, her work has appeared in Frankie Magazine and The Big Issue.
When she’s not illustrating and writing, she thinks a lot about plants, animals, music, books, equality and Aldi choc-chip biscuits. In 2016, Sophie was diagnosed with and underwent surgery for an acoustic neuroma, a brain tumour that affects balance, the facial nerve and hearing, and she is subsequently hard of hearing.
Thunderhead, her first novel, was inspired by this transformative event.
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