Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms

Will is a girl who lives on a farm in Zimbabwe with her father. She spends her days riding horses bareback, climbing trees, and running wild through the African countryside with her best friend Simon. When circumstances force Will to leave her home for an all-girls boarding school in London, she must face an entirely new world. The concrete buildings and strict rules of English society clash with everything she has known. Will refuses to accept her new reality and plots ways to return to Zimbabwe. Her fierce spirit and determination drive her to take action, even as she navigates unfamiliar territory. The novel explores themes of freedom, identity, and the challenge of bridging two vastly different cultures. Through Will's journey, readers witness the struggle between wildness and civilization, and the power of staying true to oneself.

Readers praise the vivid descriptions of Zimbabwe and the main character Will's free-spirited personality. Many note the authentic portrayal of life on an African farm and the contrast with the English boarding school setting. The writing style receives frequent mention for its poetic quality and rich imagery. Common criticisms include a slow start, abrupt ending, and uneven pacing in the middle sections. Some readers found the protagonist's actions unrealistic for her age. A few reviews mention confusion about the intended age range, noting some mature themes mixed with middle-grade storytelling. What readers liked: - Immersive African setting - Strong character development - Lyrical prose What readers disliked: - Pacing issues - Ending felt rushed - Age-appropriateness questions Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (89 ratings) Kirkus Reviews: Starred review The book won the 2015 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction.

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🌍 The book is set in both Zimbabwe and England, offering readers vivid contrasts between African farm life and British boarding school culture 📚 Katherine Rundell wrote this novel after spending time in Zimbabwe and drawing inspiration from the country's landscape and people 🏆 The book won the 2015 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction, recognizing its exceptional quality in children's literature ⚡ The original UK title of the book was "The Girl Savage," but it was changed for its US release to "Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms" 🐎 The main character's relationship with horses was influenced by Rundell's own experience - she learned to ride in Zimbabwe and later became an accomplished equestrian