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Kirkus Summary:
A tribute to the massive annual motorcycle rally in Washington, D.C., that honors our country’s veterans.
Fittingly for an event that is all about remembering, Ruth’s illustrations depict hazy, often translucent figures riding through misty golden light past the towering statue of Abraham Lincoln to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. A white child narrates in terse rhyme: “Grandpa rides for Joe and Tom, / friends he lost in Vietnam.” Traveling to rendezvous with Grandpa by train, the narrator adds, “our trip is for Uncle Zach, / flying airplanes far away. / His picture rides with me today.” Dressed in camo and riding in the grizzled grandfather’s sidecar, the child reaches the wall, where they “Leave a single flower. Kneel. / Names in charcoal. Cry. And heal.” Then at day’s end it’s time to ride again, with “Whispered wishes. Come home soon.” Only a quick mention of “POWs, MIAs” acknowledges that they are the event’s chief focus (or at least the focus of its organizers). More troublingly, in the art almost all of the visible faces, both of riders and in the background crowds, are white.
Local Reviews:
Camden, Winesburg fifth grade: I liked this book because the pictures show what they are doing and feeling, and it also tells you about the Rolling Thunder ride on Memorial Day in Washington D.C. So, I would vote for it because it is a really good book.
Ryan, Winesburg sixth grade: In this book it show a lot of detail in the setting. But in this story it was about people gathering around names of people who died in Vietnam. Also in the book all the pages were rhyming throughout the whole book. In most of the pictures it showed a horizon line showing that something was farther away from something else. In closing, I think that this book should win because this book has magnificent detail and it was for all the people that died in Vietnam.
Brandon, Winesburg sixth grade: My book is Rolling Thunder. In the story it tells about the motorcycle ride for the soldiers that never made it home from Vietnam War. The pictures show a lot of detail describing how the ride was. The pictures also show the setting of the story. At the end they go to a great place. I think my book should win because the pictures show how the journey went.
Grady, Winesburg fourth grade: I love the the pictures and they were very color full. The illustrations are nice, like super nice. The title really sticks with the story. The book has a lot of rhymes I think this book should win.
Landon, Berlin sixth grade: It was good because of the illustrations. I also liked the words.
Lukas, Berlin sixth grade: I liked Rolling Thunder because it is about history and it rhymes. Good quality!
Cheyanne, Berlin sixth grade: I like this book because I love the detailed pictures.
Kyle, Berlin fifth grade: It has the best background ever. He is the best drawing ever.
Logan, Berlin fifth grade: Great background for all the pages. Great real people not stick people.
Tristan, Berlin fifth grade: The book had good background. The book had good detail.
Keith, Berlin fifth grade: It has a great background.
Andrew, Berlin fifth grade: I like it because of the illustrations. It has rhyming words.
Levi, Walnut Creek sixth grade: I don't like the book Rolling Thunder. But, the pictures are great. I wouldn't recommend this book to others.
Kaden, Walnut Creek fifth grade: I liked the book "Rolling Thunder" because it demonstrates the sacrifice that citizens made for us in the wars. The coloring and the details in this book are magnificent and it really makes the book a lot better with these very detailed drawings.
Evan, Walnut Creek fourth grade: Rolling Thunder is a great book with great illustrations. It tells how we should treat our veterans, so I would vote for this book to be the Mock Caldecott winner.
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