Did you know that reading & talking about children’s books can heal trauma and disrupt cycles of violence? Experiencing violence is a traumatic reality for many young people. It can be direct or witnessed, an isolated event, or a habitual occurrence, and the violence can take several forms. The experience can leave children and adolescents feeling vulnerable, isolated, and afraid, and may even propel them to lash out in violence. Reading and talking about age-appropriate books can help young people process their experiences, build, or repair relationships with others, and develop productive psychological tools and responses they can apply to their lives.
Survivors of violence often report feeling alone in their experiences. As a violence survivor in Jim Butcher’s Aeronaut’s Windlass, the main character laments, “How can you explain something you can’t find the words for? How can you get someone else to understand something for which they have no frame of reference?” (p. 615). Books that capture the experiences of survivors with sensitivity and honesty can be comforting to young people, reassuring them that they are not alone. They can serve as springboards for sharing their experiences with others and illuminate pathways toward healing and moving forward. Such books can also be valuable to the families of violence survivors by helping them better understand their loved one’s experiences and by facilitating restorative conversations. In addition, they can be beneficial in the rehabilitation of perpetrators of violence, as they make visible the impact of violence on others and can prompt them to interrogate the emotional and behavioral patterns that underlie their use of violence.
In reaction to violence in their lives, young people may engage in risky or antisocial behavior, including violence against others, thus perpetuating a vicious cycle of victimization and violence. Books that help youth become consciously aware of these patterns and demonstrate healthier alternatives can be a valuable resource. The best books are ones that embed their recommendations in well-written, compelling stories that empower readers to take action in their own lives. Take for instance Cory Doerrfeld’s picturebook, The Rabbit Listened, in which a young child considers different responses to the fall of a block tower, including knocking down someone else’s tower. Ultimately, with the help of a supportive friend, the child chooses to rebuild.
Supporting young survivors of violence must be a comprehensive, long-term process. Reading and talking about books has the capacity to facilitate their emotional and psychological healing and can be a valuable component of such efforts. Library guides are a wonderful resource for book recommendations as can be your local school and public library librarians. You can find recommended lists at: padlet.com/xhadjioannou/Healing
Xenia Hadjioannou, PhD