Quiet Storm: Empowering Year 6 to Year 7 Transition with Author Kimberly Whittam

This summer local author Kimberly Whittam led workshops based on her award-winning book Quiet Storm at libraries across Manchester.  Quiet Storm was chosen by pupils at Chorlton High School as this year’s primary to high school transition read, with all year 6 pupils receiving a free copy to keep.  Children who were moving from primary school to high school this September were invited to join her at Moss Side Powerhouse Library, Avenue Library and Learning Centre, Manchester Central Library, Hulme, Didsbury and Longsight Libraries and at Z-Arts.  

The workshops concentrated on supporting the children to build their confidence, self-belief and learn how to build friendships.  The Recipe for Friendship workshop was a big hit, decorating cakes whilst thinking about the children’s own recipe for what makes a good friend and talking about how to deal with those tricky friendship challenges. The Hopes and Dreams workshop helped the children to ‘dream big’ by creating a mood board of their hopes and dreams for the coming year, as well as a goals jar. 

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.” 

The sessions helped engage children who have been gifted a copy of Quiet Storm whilst they were at their Year 7 Transition days at their chosen high schools in July.  Quiet Storm includes themes on friendship, trying to fit in, and following your dreams by speaking up, even if your friends are heading in a different direction.  

Parent Naeema 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

Kimberly said:  

I had a wonderful time running the sessions for young readers going into Year 7. Not only was it an opportunity to get crafty and have fun exploring the themes in Quiet Storm, but it also gave young people a chance to talk about their move up to secondary school. There was lots of excitement about the transition along with a few worries that were talked through. During my session at Longsight library, three of the attendees were going to the same school. One of them hadn’t attended their transition day, so it provided her with a chance to get to know familiar faces before starting school. It also provided an opportunity for parents to talk about the transition too! Overall, it was a lovely experience, and I hope I get to meet more readers in the future.

Quiet Storm is Kimberly Whittam’s debut novel, her second novel will be released in 2025  

Quiet Storm is also available to borrow from Manchester Libraries