HUNTER, Naomi (text) Karen Erasmus (illus.) A Secret Safe to Tell JoJo, 2014 unpaged $16.99 pbk ISBN 9780987587916
While this book looks like fiction it is not a story but a presentation of possible experiences, the fears and feelings of a young girl who suffers abuse from an adult. The type of abuse is not specified but there are clues that it is of a sexual nature. The text is written in the first person so the reader is drawn into the world of the victim. The picture book format with a few lines on each page and careful illustrations allow the reader to understand the process and impact of the young girl’s experiences. The resolution is implausible in that suddenly a person appears in a park who hugs the victim and by believing in her story empowers her to become free. Encouraging victims of child abuse to confide in someone is worthwhile and while the intention here is laudable I wonder about the effectiveness of this type of work. The last page has phone numbers and contact details for Kids Help Line, Australian Childhood Foundation, the Child Abuse Prevention Service, and the police.
reviewed by Mia Macrossan
