1. Trauma in children’s literature

2. Common features Death in children’s lit Main characters don’t 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) 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

4. 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.)