Trauma in children’s literature

Common features

Death in children’s lit• Main characters don’t die, or die naturally• Death is usually off stage• Death is given a meaningDeath in adolescent lit• The good die early• Death is not natural• Many deaths happen on stage• Round characters die

Death or severe trauma: Stages of acceptance

(Elizabeth Kubler Ross)

1. denial- mother’s dead and she’s talking about grasshoppers

2. anger- Don’t blame me, it was my father’s fault

3. grief- nothing goes right

4. depression- feeling consumed, runs away. On train, gains empathy and forgives father, and returns home.

5. Acceptance- returns home, father goes to doctor, liking Louise, Louise goes to grave

A few examples• denial- mother’s dead and she’s talking about grasshoppers• 73- Birthday• anger- Don’t blame me, it was my father’s 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.)