finding safe
July 7, 2007
Here’s a young adult book to look for. SAFE, by Susan Shaw, won’t be out until October, but I’m reading it now in publisher’s galleys for a book review.
There is no mystery about what happened. Walking home on the last day of 7th grade, Tracy is abducted by an older teen, raped, and left for dead. We know it happened, so does she. The story takes place over that awful summer, the aftermath, while she struggles to find enough security in her life so that she can begin to deal with the reality of the assault.
At last, a novel that really focuses on healing. What I like about this book is that Tracy is no pitiful victim. Even as she goes through a period of agraphobia and isolation, she is finding ways to help herself, figuring out how to live after overwhelming trauma and loss.
She has a lot to draw on, a kind father, the memory of a loving mother, good friends who wait in the wings for her “return.” But in the depths of her post trauma reaction she also discovers strength within herself. She draws on the power of music and her own creativity long before she is ready for talk therapy and all that comes with it.
The violence is all off stage. Tracy’s feelings are front and center. Her growth is realistic and hopeful. This is a good book.
Susie Hortman said,
January 17, 2009 @ 11:23 pm
What an amazing person, you are. “Abilene’s Child/Tormented Hope” tells of gross childhood abuse, inflicted upon me as a child. I have found that society responds to survivors in many ways. I think it is because there are many ways to manage trauma in ourselves and in others. I prefer to work through my memories. Body memories can cause severe physical pains. I was tormented for years with the memory of my step father’s belt wrapped around my neck. It took years for me to recall the memories related to that feeling my body had stored. We can change our behaviors on the outside to fit societies requirments for survival. However, our behaviors and our beliefs become more cemented and positive when they come as a result of the process of inner healing.
“Abilene’s Child/Tormented Hope” describes what drives a 3rd grader to attempt suicide by climbing a water tower. The story shares how I took responsibility, shame and guilt, for other people’s behavior. Amazing what healing does in one’s life.
Susie Hortman said,
February 8, 2009 @ 8:33 am
When brutally attacked, just one incident, especially as a child, turning into an adult, it is very difficult not to take time to feel sorry for yourself. I believe that is a part of healing. However, if we stay stuck in that, or other areas of recovery, like anger, grief, loneliness, etc, without moving on, we will remain stuck. I often feel very sorry for the little girl who lived, “Abilene’s Child/Tormented Hope”. There were many adults who knew what was happening to me. Very few of them, stayed to encourage me, or protect me. No one is able to right out one’s path for healing. Depression may take two or three years, maybe longer, until there is light and healing. I have seen survivors going through so many stages. Sometimes, when a parent, sibling, or a person close to a survivor dies, it seems like starting over in the healing process. However, all the tools learned previously, will come into play. Stay in therapy and survive the trauma and experience recovery where there is freedom and joy.