Dobra oluja

The stories in this collection alternate between school incidents, family situations, children's misunderstandings, feelings of injustice, minor conflicts and moments in which children must show honesty, tolerance or courage. The title story "The Good Storm" particularly emphasizes the idea that even an unpleasant event can ultimately bring something good.

Among the more notable texts are "Two Coats", a story with an emphasis on the reconciliation and meaninglessness of children's disputes, "At the Bottom of the Suitcase", which brings greater tension and curiosity, and "School in the Car", one of the more emotionally colored stories in the collection.

The book is also important in that it clearly shows how Lovrak builds children's characters. His heroes are not idealized: they can be stubborn, hurt, curious, proud and clumsy, but it is precisely through such situations that they learn what justice, responsibility and consideration for others mean. Instead of big words, Lovrak derives moral emphases from concrete events and children's experiences.

In Lovrak's oeuvre, Dobra oluja takes its place among works that may not be as well-known as Vlak u snijegu or Družba Pero Kvržica, but they very clearly demonstrate his fundamental literary characteristics: closeness to a child's perspective, a simple and readable style, a sense of school and village everyday life, and an enduring interest in community and the educational value of stories. This is why this collection is a valuable example of Lovrak's shorter prose and a good insight into the more intimate, autobiographical layer of his writing.