Trauma in children

1
Trauma in childrens literature
2
Common features

• Death in childrens lit
• Main characters dont die, or die naturally
• Death is usually off stage
• Death is given a meaning
• Death in adolescent lit
• The good die early
• Death is not natural
• Many deaths happen on stage
• Round characters die

3
Death or severe trauma Stages of acceptance
(Elizabeth Kubler Ross)

• denial- mothers dead and shes talking about
  grasshoppers
• anger- Dont blame me, it was my fathers fault
• grief- nothing goes right
• depression- feeling consumed, runs away. On
  train, gains empathy and forgives father, and
  returns home.
• Acceptance- returns home, father goes to doctor,
  liking Louise, Louise goes to grave

4
A few examples

• denial- mothers dead and shes talking about
  grasshoppers
• 73- Birthday
• anger- Dont blame me, it was my fathers fault
• 78- The Hole (goes from denial to anger)
• 80- Kilaeau - Pure rage
• grief- nothing goes right
• 100- Christmas without Cranberry Sauce
• depression- feeling consumed, runs away. On
  train, gains empathy and forgives father, and
  returns home.
• 136- No Good
• 153- Heartsick
• 156- Fire on the rails
• 188- old bones
• acceptance
• 205- Met (the beginning)
• 216- My life (lots of symbols of mother)
• 227- Finding a Way. Last page (looking in mirror
  at Louise.)