A Dose of Reality for Teen Readers

by Nikki Tate

As parents, we hope our children will grow up in a safe, secure world. Sadly, a quick glance at the headlines reminds us that many children experience more than their share of trauma and heartbreak. Both of the following books, one fiction and one non-fiction, provide compelling views of some of the less savoury situations confronted by young people every day.

Leslie’s Journal
By Allan Stratton
Annick Press, 2008
First published in 2000, this novel has been completely revised and updated to reflect the hi-tech world of today’s teens. Cell phones, text messaging, and social networking sites might have opened up a whole new world of interpersonal communication, but these tools have also made it possible for teens to be tormented in nasty new ways. The strong story line in Stratton’s novel is intensified with the addition of these new weapons in the modern bully’s arsenal.

The bully is Jason, a cool new kid who proves irresistible to 15-year-old Leslie. Caught at a vulnerable point in her life (her parents are divorced and she’s having trouble getting along with her mother), Leslie is easy pickings for the charming Jason. She is soon swept up in a cruel and abusive relationship.

In her journal, Leslie records the details of her new love affair. Stratton’s writing is convincing as he relates the many small steps along a dark path leading to date rape, blackmail, stalking, manipulation, and violence.

When Leslie’s journal is discovered by a well-meaning teacher, Leslie is forced to decide whether or not to lay charges. Standing up for herself isn’t easy, but Leslie’s decision to do so brings this novel to a satisfying conclusion. Leslie’s Journal is certainly a valuable read for teenagers, parents, and teachers—Stratton has done a fine job of exploring the psyche of a victim of abuse. The reason this novel will be passed from hand to hand is not its educational value, though. The author’s strong storytelling and believable characters are what make this a page-turner sure to satisfy readers who like a hard edge to their fiction.

The Bite of the Mango
By Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland
Annick Press, 2008
A novel like Leslie’s Journal can bring to life an all-too-common scenario in a way that can change a reader’s thoughts about abusive relationships. For pure emotional impact, though, it is hard to beat a true story like the one related in The Bite of the Mango. Mariatu Kamara was born in a small rural village in Sierra Leone. The first part of her childhood was relatively uneventful—she, like the other village children, helped on the communal farm, played games, and enjoyed music and dancing at night.

All that changed when rebel soldiers, many just children themselves, attacked and destroyed Mariatu’s village. Mariatu was captured and brutally attacked during the raid. In an act of senseless barbarism, the rebels cut off both her hands, leaving Mariatu to fend for herself. Incredibly, she survived her injuries and found her way to safety. Eventually reunited with relatives in a refugee camp, Mariatu’s story of survival continues through a pregnancy, the heart-breaking death of her baby, abject poverty, and, eventually, a journey to a new home in Canada.

The writing style of The Bite of the Mango is direct and straightforward. Journalist Susan McClelland has taken Kamara’s story and presented it with very little authorial interference. The result is that the reader hears Mariatu’s voice, a voice that is at once naive and wise beyond its years. Though some of the material in this memoir is horrifying, ultimately, this is an uplifting, hopeful story. Mariatu does far more than simply survive her ordeal. Recently named as a UNICEF Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Mariatu (now 22 years old) will embark on a North American speaking tour to share her experiences and draw attention to the plight of the youngest victims of war.

Nikki Tate is an author who lives on Vancouver Island. Kids who like to write should visit Nikki’s website at www.tarragonisland.com or www.stablemates.net.