Announcing Quiet Storm as this year’s primary to high school Transition Read 

We’re thrilled to announce that Quiet Storm by local author, Kimberly Whittam, is Read Manchester’s primary to high school Transition Read chosen title for a second year.  

Quiet Storm was selected by Chorlton High School Reading Ambassadors last year and proved to be a very popular choice.  Every child starting Year 7 in a Manchester high school in September 2025 will be gifted a copy of Quiet Storm when they attend their ‘Transition Day’ in July. 

The plot helped me understand what shy/quieter people are going through in a way I had not really thought about before. The book was very addictive and there were always new and exciting things to keep me hooked. I feel as though this book has something for everyone and is very inclusive, diverse and relatable. (Maria, pupil) 

This is the 6th year of Manchester’s city-wide Transition Read programme and is delivered by Manchester City Council and Read Manchester in partnership with local schools.  Reading the same book and taking part in lessons and activities themed around Quiet Storm offers pupils a shared experience when they start high school, irrespective of which primary school they attend. Pupils in Specialist Educational Needs provision will also receive a copy of the book and an additional title – Super Duper You by Sophy Henn.     

Teaching resources have been developed for both primary and high schools.  Each primary school will be gifted a copy of the book so that they can introduce the themes of starting high school with their Year 6 pupils.  Kimberly will also be meeting Year 6 pupils in an online session.  Last year, the online sessions attracted our largest online audience of the school year with 3,000 pupils (90 Y6 classes) from 53 schools. The interactive session was very well received, with themes resonating with the transition journey: 

‘The children are already hooked on the book. Meeting Kimberly made them want to read it more. I hope those quieter, more reserved children see her and Storm as an inspiration’ (teacher – Chapel Street Primary School). 

Quiet Storm is Kimberly Whittam’s debut novel. Kimberly says ‘I wrote Quiet Storm for children who struggle with shyness; children who don’t speak up, no matter how much they want to. It’s also a celebration of the chaotic yet joyous tribulations that occur every day in classrooms across the country’.  

Watch our brief interview with Kimberly talking about her involvement in Read Manchester’s Transition Read programme. 

Quiet Storm is available to borrow from Manchester Libraries 

Here’s the exciting book blurb: 

No matter how quiet it is, you’ve got a voice, Storm. You should use it to speak up for yourself. Storm has never liked to stand out from the crowd, but ever since she started Year 7, her life has been full of people telling her she needs to speak up, make friends and be more like her popular big brother. Then Storm breaks a school record and finds herself the new star of the athletics team. But as she’s thrust into the spotlight, her home life and friendships start spiralling out of control, and it’s time for Quiet Storm to show that she has something to say. 

Last year we spoke to parents and young people attending transition events with Kimberly in some of our libraries.  Michaela aged 11 who joined the Hopes and Dreams  workshop at Moss Side Powerhouse library said: 

I normally only read books like diary style ones or shorter books. I cannot wait to read the next book. The book was really inspiring, and it has made me think about situations that might happen, and I feel better about going to Secondary school. I am really excited about secondary school now.” 

One of the parents accompanying her daughter said: 

I have started to read the book with my daughter who is going into year 7. When I read the back of the book, I just thought this sounds very interesting just what we need, may give us an insight into what might happen going into year 7. We are not big readers in our family, but I really want to encourage it over the summer. I am just glad you came to our Powerhouse Library; it is like a home away from home for me and that an author came here was amazing 

There will be Transition Read sessions in the summer holidays in local libraries this year.  This offers young people the chance to meet Kimberly in person, get their copy of Quiet Storm signed and take part in an inspiring craft activity.  Kimberly is a teaching assistant in one of our local schools and her sessions are full of chat about moving on to high school with confidence and self-awareness.   

Dates and times of the sessions will be advertised on Manchester Libraries’ social media in July. 

Thanks to publishers Usborne for their support of Read Manchester’s Transition Read 2025 and to System C for their generous financial contribution.