The themes in children’s books have been getting grittier for years, and the trend continues with Peace, Locomotion, the latest book by two-time Newbery Medal finalist Jacqueline Woodson. This novel for 9-to-12-year olds deals in part with a soldier who comes home from a war missing a leg and suffering from signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.
October 16, 2009
PTSD in a Book for 9-Year-Olds? Tomorrow — Two-Time Newbery Medal Finalist Jacqueline Woodson Returns With ‘Peace, Locomotion’
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One-Minute Book Reviews 
That can only be a positive thing. Kids need to learn that not everyone has the same life experience they have. And things like PTSD are invisible precisely because no one talks about them. I think teaching kids about these kinds of conditions will only help to normalise them, and help people become more accepting of others. Heavens knows, people dealing with PTSD have enough on their plate without having to explain why they have a hard time functioning like a “normal” human being.
Comment by Svasti — October 20, 2009 @ 11:11 pm |
So much depends on the execution, though. Some writers might deal with post-traumatic stress disorder in an insensitive way (for example, by perpetuating stereotypes) that would serve neither children nor people with PTSD.
Comment by 1minutebookreviewswordpresscom — October 21, 2009 @ 3:14 pm |