| ________________
CM . . .
. Volume VIII Number 20 . . . . June 6, 2002
excerpt: Peter ... Life with my family was hard. My dad was an alcoholic .... My parents split up when I was two ... There's a lot of stuff from my childhood that I don't remember. I remember most of the bad stuff, but the good stuff hasn't come back to me ... For eight years after that, I didn't get to see my mom ... I was always getting grounded, or getting the belt, just for stupid things ... Everything I did was wrong ... My dad and my stepmom were always fighting ... A lot of my anger came from the environment I was growing up in at home ... I was abused mentally, physically, and sexually ... I think I just shut off a lot of the feelings. I didn't want to deal with them. I never really had an outlet ... After being on the street for a while, I went back to the shelter. At this point, I was becoming an alcoholic ... The second time I got arrested, I hadn't even done anything ... I don't think anyone understood me ... The advice I'd give a kid growing up in a similar situation would be: Get help! Find someone you can talk to before it's too late.
This collection
of ten true life stories is a brutally honest and heartrending portrayal
of the difficult circumstances which some young adults have faced during
their early lives, with particular emphasis on the impact of the actions
of family members. Although the title and cover design suggest at first
viewing that this book adopts a humorous tone, in fact this compilation
is anything but lighthearted. Indeed, the lives of these young adults
have been extremely difficult and emotionally painful, including multiple
family and personal problems, such as the loss of a parent through divorce
or death, physical and mental illness, homosexuality, alcoholism, thieving,
abuse, street life, and drug addiction.
The compilers, two social workers from
Toronto, present real lives and events which attempt to validate the
experiences, choices, and emotions of those readers who face dire circumstances.
In so doing, they aim to provide support and advice, and also to suggest
ways in which adults can be helpful in their involvement with such adolescents.
The two-page "Introduction" and the brief comments before each story
provide a limited, general context. In a four-page "Afterward," a psychiatrist
at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto acknowledges the painful
emotions and implications of such circumstances and recommends some
sources of help.
Although each story is written in the
first person, there is a monotonous sameness of voice throughout the
collection; consequently, readers who do not personally associate with
the stories may lose interest. Furthermore, the somewhat distant tone
adopted through retrospection and the level of understanding of their
circumstances in hindsight suggest that these young people have received
considerable editorial assistance in interpreting and relating their
stories. Nonetheless, the accounts tend to ramble, lacking clear thematic
or chronological organization.
One of the most striking commonalities
in the life stories is the lengthy duration and severity of the difficulties.
Consequently, certain readers may feel even less empowered to extricate
themselves from their own difficult circumstances within the immediate
future. While the comments of the social workers and the psychiatrist
are valuable, they may be insufficient in length, substance and specifics
to counterbalance the despair which some teens embroiled in similar
events may feel upon reading these accounts. These ten life stories
are related by survivors, but their paths have been particularly tortuous
due both to external circumstances and to personal decision-making.
Some others facing similar situations might be able to find more positive,
effective, and timely resolutions to their problems, but such potential
variety in paths and outcomes is not included. However, this book may
provide invaluable support for some young people, simply in acknowledging
by example that others have emerged from difficult times, or continue
to survive despite ongoing problems.
Given the diverse responses which these
accounts might engender, it would be prudent for potential purchasers
of this book for library purposes to make themselves aware of the tone
of the content and to ensure that locally-available individuals and
agencies who can provide support are indicated in some way.
Recommended with reservations. Sheila
Alexander is a recent graduate of the Faculty of Education at the University
of Manitoba.
To comment on this
title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.
Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal
use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other
reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Published by
NEXT
REVIEW |TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - June 7, 2002
AUTHORS
| TITLES | MEDIA REVIEWS
| PROFILES
| BACK ISSUES
| SEARCH | CMARCHIVE
| HOME
|
