Sarah's Waterfall by Ellery Akers

Illustrated by Angelique Benicio. 52 p., Safer Society, 2009.

When children have been sexually abused, they may feel fearful, ashamed, guilty, sad, and different from other kids. As this story opens, elementary-school-age Sarah, who has been sexually abused by her stepfather, describes these feelings. Written in the form of her journal, Sarah's Waterfall chronicles her healing from this traumatic experience. Sarah's mother has died, and she lives with her Gram. Sarah is safe with Gram, who reassures her that she is beautiful and good. When Sarah is sad, Gram assures her of her devotion to her and her willingness accompany her through the process of her recovery. Gram also provides a loving, ordinary life for Sarah, playing cards with her, taking her to museums and out to lunch, and taking care of her when she has a cold and when she needs glasses. Sarah also participates in a group for sexually abused girls that is led by her school psychologist, Mrs. Bell. The group does exercises to help work through their painful feelings and to learn to feel strong again. One of the most significant for Sarah is drawing; in particular, drawing what it feels like to feel clean. In the group, Sarah meets a new best friend, Paula, who is also a wonderful source of support. By the end of the story, Sarah has moved through her fear, shame, and aloneness, and is taking delight in everyday things. This story can be a source of empathy, support, and hope as children recover from the trauma of sexual abuse.

Ages: 7-12
Cultural Context: multicultural