Every Cloud
on Goodreads (30)
What’s inside...
Amy feels like everything is going wrong. For a start, she’s just found out she isn’t going to the same high school as everyone else. Add to that her annoying younger brothers, Pops’ worsening dementia, and Cassie, her supposed best friend, being meaner than ever. Amy’s summer is not looking promising, especially when her mum tells her they’re moving in with Gran and Pops for the holidays, all the way on the other side of town. However, Amy finds a silver lining when she discovers who lives across the road from her grandparents: Jay, the kind, quiet boy from school. Soon Amy realizes that friendship isn’t always about who talks the most and the loudest, who does the most exciting things or throws the coolest parties. Sometimes a friend is just someone to talk to, someone to listen. But when outside pressures start to creep back in, can Amy hang on to her summer of silver linings? A humorous and heartfelt story of new friends, fresh starts and silver linings, for fans of Jacqueline Wilson, Lisa Thompson and Cath Howe.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
8-12
Length
123 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the clouds in the story represent in real life?
How do you feel when you face a problem, similar to the characters in the book?
What are some ways the characters in the book solved their problems? Can we think of other solutions too?
How did the story change your thinking about challenges and difficulties?
Who was your favorite character and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before reading, take a moment to look at the cover and ask your child what they think the story might be about.
Pause at key moments in the story to ask your child how they think a character is feeling or what they might do next.
After finishing the book, relate the story to your child's personal experiences by discussing similar challenges they have faced.
Encourage your child to draw a scene from the book or a new final page, giving them a creative outlet to express what they’ve learned.
Use the story as a reference point in future conversations when your child faces their own challenges, reminding them of the resilience and problem-solving demonstrated by the characters.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of challenges
Explanation: In 'Every Cloud,' the main character faces various challenges but learns to overcome them with a positive attitude.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by learning to face their own difficulties, such as trying again after failing a test or finding solutions when they encounter obstacles.
Example Lesson: Empathy towards others' feelings
Explanation: Throughout the book, characters express their emotions, and others respond with understanding and compassion.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to be mindful of their peers' feelings and react kindly, fostering better relationships at school and in play.
Example Lesson: Importance of teamwork
Explanation: The story highlights characters working together to solve a problem, showing that teamwork often leads to success.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of cooperating in group activities or team sports, understanding that collective effort can achieve great results.
Example Lesson: Creativity as a problem-solving tool
Explanation: Characters in the book use creative thinking to deal with tricky situations, demonstrating that sometimes unconventional ideas are the best solutions.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to use their imagination more freely in real life, whether in their play, during school projects, or in daily tasks.
Example Lesson: Optimism and looking for the silver lining
Explanation: The phrase 'Every cloud has a silver lining' is exemplified as characters find positive aspects in seemingly bad situations.
Real-World Application: This can teach children to stay optimistic and search for the positives, even when things don’t go their way.