Rain Reign

Rain Reign

• Genre: Fiction; middle-grade contemporary
• Originally Published: 2014
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 720L; grades 5-8
• Structure/Length: 49 chapters and author’s note; approximately 256 pages; approximately 4 hours, 7 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Rain Reign introduces Rose Howard, a fifth grader with autism who finds solace and order in her structured routines and her skill with homonyms. The central conflict revolves around Rose's deep attachment to her dog, Rain (a homonym of "reign"), and the challenges she faces when Rain goes missing during a hurricane. As Rose searches for Rain, she learns more about emotions, relationships, and the power of love and resilience. The story explores ideas about neurodiversity, empathy, and the importance of understanding and acceptance.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Autism; loss; bullying; abuse; family dynamics

Ann M. Martin, Author

• Bio: Born in 1955; American author known for her prolific contributions to children's literature; created The Baby-Sitters Club series; received critical acclaim for Rain Reign’s portrayal of a neurodivergent protagonist; often emphasizes the importance of friendship, empathy, and personal growth in her stories
• Other Works: The Baby-Sitters Club series (1986-present); Slam Book (1987); A Corner of the Universe (2002); A Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray (2005); Main Street Series (2007-2011); Ten Rules for Living With My Sister (2011)
• Awards: Schneider Family Book Award (2015); several “Best Books of the Year” designations including Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and School Library Journal

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Personal and Communal Trauma’s Effects on Children
• Parental Competency in Caregiving
• Overcoming the Challenges Presented by Disability

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the medical and social contexts regarding autism that impact the protagonist’s daily life.
• Read paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Personal and Communal Trauma’s Effects on Children, Parental Competency in Caregiving, and Overcoming the Challenges Presented by Disability.
• Select, research, and plan an action to promote healing that builds on the theme of Personal and Communal Trauma’s Effects on Children in the novel.
• Analyze and evaluate the plot and character details to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding Rain’s characterization, homonyms, and other topics.