Read or recap any of the Biblical figures mentioned above whose names were changed.

In what ways are you like your parents/family members?.How is Thunder Boy similar to his father, beyond the name they share?.If your name changed to reflect who you are, what would your new name be?.Can you think of a time when you, like Thunder Boy, Jr., just wanted to be “mostly myself”? What was that like for you?.Or, perhaps most widely known, when the persecutor Saul became the preacher Paul. Jesus continued this tradition when giving Simon a new name, Peter. For example, Abram becomes Abraham, Sarai becomes Sarah, and Jacob becomes Israel. In the ancient Hebrew culture, one’s name being changed signaled a new beginning in that one’s life. There is a tradition of name changing in the Bible. He simply wants his own name, a name “that sounds like me.” This is not an issue of love, Thunder Boy points out. Even though he is named after his father, the Native American boy strives to carve out his own identity. Theological Conversation Partners: Thunder Boy, Jr. Thunder Boy reminds us that we learn about ourselves from the people and world around us. For example, Thunder Boy’s sister is in almost every scene, observing her brother learn and become his new self.

The illustrations remind us of the connection we have with one another and with all of creation. This is an important children’s book for any library, in that it portrays a Native American child and family beyond the traditional Thanksgiving storybooks. How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story? Sherman Alexie has stated in interviews that he wrote this book to address the need for brown-skinned children in literature. For example, the boy wonders that if he was known for touching a wild orca, his name would be, “Not afraid of ten thousand teeth.” The illustrations from Mexican-American artist Yuyi Morales gives voice to Thunder Boy, his family, and the world around him. And the author employs great imagination on Thunder Boy’s part. Literary elements at work in the story: This lyrical text is expertly crafted, drawing on the rich tradition of names and the meaning of names in the Native American culture. Then, his father, recognizing Thunder Boy’s need, gives him a new name. What follows is an imaginative exploration into who he is and what his name could be.

He would prefer a name that reveals who he is, instead of a smaller version of his father, Thunder Boy, Sr. Thunder Boy is a Native-American child who does not like his name. Summary: Sherman Alexie set out to write a children’s book featuring a non-white child.

Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie