Screenshot of eBook cover by K. Reyes 4/2021
Bibliographic Information:
- Title: Tornado Brain
- Author: Cat Patrick
- ISBN: 978-1984815316
- Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
- Copyright Date: 2020
Genre [Format of the Title]
- Mystery, Realistic Fiction [eBook]
- Summer 2020 Kids Indie Next List Pick
- Apple Most Anticipated Book of Spring 2020
- 2021 Texas Lone Star Reading List Pick (Patrick, C., n.d.).
- Grade 4-12 (TeachingBooks.net, 2021); ideal for reluctant readers
Plot Summary:
Frankie is obsessed with tornados. She isn’t your typical thirteen-year-old. Her neurodivergent self makes her seem mean and difficult. Frankie, her twin sister Tess, and her best friend Collette have been friends since elementary and would do Dare or Scare games and kept a record of it. Then one day Collette disappeared and Frankie is convinced she knows why. She’s also convinced she knew where her friend went, but she needed to convince the adults around her that she was right.
Frankie is obsessed with tornados. She isn’t your typical thirteen-year-old. Her neurodivergent self makes her seem mean and difficult. Frankie, her twin sister Tess, and her best friend Collette have been friends since elementary and would do Dare or Scare games and kept a record of it. Then one day Collette disappeared and Frankie is convinced she knows why. She’s also convinced she knew where her friend went, but she needed to convince the adults around her that she was right.
Author Background:
Cat Patrick was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming and now resides near Seattle, Washington with her two middle school aged twin daughters and a cat. She has been publishing novels for young readers and young adults since 2011. Tornado Brain was inspired by her own twin daughters who mirror the characters Frankie and Tess; and, the book’s setting is close to where she and her family often vacation in Long Beach, Washington (Hutchinson, 2020).
Cat Patrick was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming and now resides near Seattle, Washington with her two middle school aged twin daughters and a cat. She has been publishing novels for young readers and young adults since 2011. Tornado Brain was inspired by her own twin daughters who mirror the characters Frankie and Tess; and, the book’s setting is close to where she and her family often vacation in Long Beach, Washington (Hutchinson, 2020).
Critical Evaluation:
Tornado Brain is written from the point of view of Frankie and that gives the reader a glimpse into the mind of a neurodivergent child. Frankie does not like change, loud noises, or people touching her. She comes off as mean, difficult, and generally unfriendly. But she is learning how to handle her emotional outbursts and she is trying to understand her own self. There is a level of self-awareness that develops in Frankie’s character and I found her endearing towards the end as she navigates the loss of life and friendship. The dialogue as well as Frankie’s inner monologue are both convincing and realistic and the bond of the sisters, despite their differences, is beautifully described through their interactions.
Tornado Brain is written from the point of view of Frankie and that gives the reader a glimpse into the mind of a neurodivergent child. Frankie does not like change, loud noises, or people touching her. She comes off as mean, difficult, and generally unfriendly. But she is learning how to handle her emotional outbursts and she is trying to understand her own self. There is a level of self-awareness that develops in Frankie’s character and I found her endearing towards the end as she navigates the loss of life and friendship. The dialogue as well as Frankie’s inner monologue are both convincing and realistic and the bond of the sisters, despite their differences, is beautifully described through their interactions.
Creative Use for a Library Program:
World Autism Month is celebrated in April. A display of several books to highlight this awareness. I currently have multiple copies (10+ each) of Born on a Blue Day, Look Me in the Eye, Temple Grandin’s books, and A Mango Shaped Space to name a few. We could create several “book groups of the month” with these titles (including Tornado Brain which I plan to purchase a group set for next school year) and host a book group meeting with pizza and snacks after school at the end of the month.
World Autism Month is celebrated in April. A display of several books to highlight this awareness. I currently have multiple copies (10+ each) of Born on a Blue Day, Look Me in the Eye, Temple Grandin’s books, and A Mango Shaped Space to name a few. We could create several “book groups of the month” with these titles (including Tornado Brain which I plan to purchase a group set for next school year) and host a book group meeting with pizza and snacks after school at the end of the month.
Speed-Round Book Talk or Short Book Trailer:
Frankie thinks she knows where her once best friend has disappeared to and why. She knows it’s not her fault that her friend is missing, so why does she think that it might be? Frankie is learning how to control her tornado brain, now if she could only convince everyone else that her thinking might be the solution to finding her missing friend. Find out what happens when you pick up Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick.
Frankie thinks she knows where her once best friend has disappeared to and why. She knows it’s not her fault that her friend is missing, so why does she think that it might be? Frankie is learning how to control her tornado brain, now if she could only convince everyone else that her thinking might be the solution to finding her missing friend. Find out what happens when you pick up Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick.
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation:
Everyone’s neurodiversity is uniquely experienced so one could challenge the plot based on their personal experience but this book does not claim to speak for everyone. It clearly depicts one specific young teen’s brain and her different perspective and perception of human interactions. Librarians are responsible for presenting varied points of views and providing as much information as possible through different points of views (American Library Association, 2020).
Everyone’s neurodiversity is uniquely experienced so one could challenge the plot based on their personal experience but this book does not claim to speak for everyone. It clearly depicts one specific young teen’s brain and her different perspective and perception of human interactions. Librarians are responsible for presenting varied points of views and providing as much information as possible through different points of views (American Library Association, 2020).
Reason for Inclusion:
Disability rights has recently been in my mind ever since we moved to online instruction. As catering to the different learners navigating Zoom classes becomes more difficult and the chasm created by our hybrid instruction delivery system widens, the attempt to bridge this gap becomes more urgent. Books like this give me hope.
Disability rights has recently been in my mind ever since we moved to online instruction. As catering to the different learners navigating Zoom classes becomes more difficult and the chasm created by our hybrid instruction delivery system widens, the attempt to bridge this gap becomes more urgent. Books like this give me hope.
REFERENCES
American Library Association. (2020, September 25). Library Bill of Rights. Advocacy, Legislation & Issues. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill.
Autismspeaks.org. (2021). World Autism Month FAQ. Autism Speaks. https://www.autismspeaks.org/world-autism-month-faq.
Hutchinson, C. (2020, November 14). PNW author's book on neurodivergent teen was inspired by her own child. Seattle Refined. http://seattlerefined.com/lifestyle/pacific-northwest-author-cat-patrick-book-tornado-brain-neurodivergence.
Patrick, C. (n.d.). Tornado Brain. https://www.catpatrick.com/tornado-brain.
Patrick, C. (2021). Middle grade author. https://www.catpatrick.com/about/.
TeachingBooks.net. (2021). Tornado Brain. TeachingBooks. https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=70549.
Autismspeaks.org. (2021). World Autism Month FAQ. Autism Speaks. https://www.autismspeaks.org/world-autism-month-faq.
Hutchinson, C. (2020, November 14). PNW author's book on neurodivergent teen was inspired by her own child. Seattle Refined. http://seattlerefined.com/lifestyle/pacific-northwest-author-cat-patrick-book-tornado-brain-neurodivergence.
Patrick, C. (n.d.). Tornado Brain. https://www.catpatrick.com/tornado-brain.
Patrick, C. (2021). Middle grade author. https://www.catpatrick.com/about/.
TeachingBooks.net. (2021). Tornado Brain. TeachingBooks. https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=70549.
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