Silent Thunder
by Andrea Davis Pinkney is a war fiction for children underlining the
predicament of children living under slavery. Of course a smothered childhood
is an evil curse than direct death. This story is about a few children who are
bound to be slaves probably all their lives, may be because they are black and
have come from some different land.
Summer is an
eleven-year-old girl and his older brother Rosco live with their mom in a
plantation in Virginia, the American Southern. They don’t know who their father
is. The children are brought to the master on their birthdays so that the
master Gideon Parnell can evaluate their growth and devise plans of profits
from them. He may sell them or put for rigorous work, the way adults do.
Rosco, the
protagonist, of the book holds a silent thunder within his heart; he wants to
live a free life on his own terms. Rosco works as a personal, close helper to
Lowell Parnell, the master’s son, and begins to learn reading and writing by
overhearing the Lowell’s lessons. And for slaves education is prohibited. One
day he thieves a book of Lowell and gives it to Summer for learning reading and
writing. However, their mother becomes agitated upon finding that. But soon
Thea, a reputed slave, comes to know about Summer’s secret and begins talking to
her in puzzles to bring about the matter of silent thunder which implies the
craving for freedom.
The year is
1862, in America civil war is on. Then Lincoln has been heard of announcing
freedom and equality for blacks and they can join the army to fight the war. When
the news reach to the Parnell plantation, Rosco and Clem who tried running once
but got caught, begin preparations to flee the camp.
Soon, the
master suffered a stroke in a church and as the doctor Bates says his chances
are thinning out. And mama then takes care of him. Mama has learnt reading and
writing from the master. A secret unfolds that the master is the father of
Summer and Rosco. Soon, a new master from Louisiana may come to take the charge
of the plantation. Dr. Bates is a silent protester of slavery. One day he shows
the newspaper of Lincoln Union, showing the victory of Fredericksburg to Rosco.
On the eve of
Cotillion party Dr. Bates comes late and when he reaches there he speaks about
equality and freedom, and thus others frown. White or the masters are already
of the opinion that emancipation of slaves is not a right thing to happen in
America politically. The master class mourns that victory and as an upshot
keeps a watch on the road. Before the party it was Dr. Bates who helped the
boys to reach across the river. Thus he was late for his own party. The boys
take the Underground Railroad and reach the North to join the army.
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