There are days when we have to work to see the potential in children. The following is a list of good read novels based on true stories that remind us of the compassion we have for children and the potential these children have when we stopped labeling and start helping. These are the stories that keep us going, keep us helping, and remind us that there is good in each of us.
Dibs in Search of Self by Virginia M. Axline, originally published in 1968.
This follows the story of a five year old boy who will not talk, will not play, will not come out of his small bubble. Some tried to say he was autistic. Through the remarkable help of a play therapist, Dibs found himself and he emerged in something wonderful!
A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer published 1995
This follows the story of a young boy and the severe abuse he encountered as a child. One must have a good stomach to be able to read this book, and be prepared to set it down many times to catch your breath and be in touch with your own feelings. Well worth the read though and remarkably a book you will never forget in all your life. When we are exposed to the realization that child abuse exists around us and the experiences that child sometimes must endure, we can have a great understanding of the healing process they must go through and our role to help them through.
There are also two additional follow up stories to this book: The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family which follows this boy through his adolescent years and his struggles through finding himself, love, and living the life in the foster care system; A Man Named Dave which talks about recovery and hope as he moves into adulthood. This is an autobiographical trilogy that really is a great read for anyone who wants to help take a stand against child abuse or better understand the children who are trying to recover from their abuse.
Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff published 2002
This is the story of a 12 year old girl who has had a life in foster care and struggles to find her place in the world and the feelings of love, security and belonging. She is characterized as a trouble child, but inside, she is so much more.
No Such Thing as a Bad Kid by Charles D. Appelstein published in 1998
This is a great book in helping those who work with troubled children understand their misbehavior. This book takes you through different levels of understanding misbehavior as a call for help, how to react and understand the message, and even sample dialogs you can engage in to approach different issues. It will help prepare you for working with challenging behaviors and how to appropriately respond. This book is not a novel like the others, so you can skip around to some extent and read the things you are dealing with the most often or the things that have the most meaning to you.
Other books that I recommend as good reads for working with children is the Love and Logic Series by Jim Fay and Charles Fay and Foster Cline. This is a series for parents and teachers about how to work with children to teach them responsibility, the power of consequences, and how to solve their own problems. There are great ideas to assist children to be self-confident, motivated, and ready to experience life.
For anyone helping children to work through their struggles, these books can be a great resource to help you remember the value of children.
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