This book is a masterpiece of the picture book format. The text is artfully written in that it provides numerous twists and turns for the reader creating narrow passageways which parallel the journey of the main character. The artwork is equally masterful. I love the idea that the end papers appear as crumpled paper and each of the images appears to be a torn photograph. These images are suggestive of the "throw-away" nature of the child involved in the story. Only at the end when the boy arrives home (a box) with his recently found cat does the single closing photo appear whole and without tears. There are other subtle meanings also woven into the illustrations. Look carefully but most importantly enjoy. This picture book provoked three days of discussion from a group of 5th grade students with whom I worked. They couldn't let the book go and they kept finding things to discuss in it. I pairs well with Monkey Island by Paula Fox and the Lady in a Box (author?.Also I Can Hear the Sun by Patricia Polacco.

Thunderwith is a very good book. It is about a girl named Lara and her mom dies so she goes to live with her dad. Her step-mom and half-sisters and brothers don't like her. She is feeling unexcepted and runs into the woods during a storm. She meets a dog that she thinks came out of the storm. She names it Thunderwith and it becomes her friend. But, something bad happens to Thunderwith, to see what happens read this book!

This is a emotional story about a adolescent called Lara who is lonely because her mum dies from cancer and her stepmother does not help her get threw the tough stages. She finds this dog and calls it Thunderwith. She treats it like a good friend. Meanwhile at school she gets bullied by Gowd Gadrey about her mother's ring and she gets told aboriginal stories by an aborigine. Later, Gowd shoots Thunderwith and gets put into a boarding school far away. Gladwyn(the stepmother) realises she has been harsh on her. Lara recieves a new adorable puppy.

THE END

I thought "Thunderwith" was a beautifuly written story about a girl named Lara who is coping with her mother's death while living with her father and hostile step-mother. She befriend's a dog named Thunderwith who she beleives was sent from her mother in heaven.This book made me feel as I was going through all the emotions Lara was experiencing. I cried reading this book so that tells you how good it is. A great drama story for young-adult readers

My 2 1/2 year old daughter picked this book, almost randomly, from the library shelf. I think she was attracted to the beautiful picture on the front cover. I tried to talk her out of it because the book is obviously advanced for her, but we took it home anyway. She asked for the book several times and listened to the entire story both times (high praise from a toddler). The words were beautifully written. The rhythm is slow and soothing.

I still think the book is a little mature for a toddler, but I intend to buy it and read it to her again when she's older. I love that the story of slavery is told from a child's view. I don't expect my daughter to ever understand what it would be like to be born into slavery, but this book makes this very important subject more attainable to a small child.

A also like that this is a universal story about a mother's unlimited love for her children.