Most elementary and middle school students have made new friends or reunited with old ones to form their social circles and cliques.
Let's not overlook the quiet loners who seek a safe corner of the playground or a quiet nook in the library. They are likely too shy or embarrassed to approach a group and risk rejection after asking to be included.
As much as parents and teachers would like to promote reading for our children, let's recognize that some of them turn to reading to escape loneliness. Perhaps they can join a book club at the school or the public library. That's one way to start.
Halloween is coming up too. It used to be a happy, exciting occasion for Sera Fletcher, her siblings and friends. That was until the night her best friend was whisked away. She soon turned to books and the public library as safe places with imaginary friends and wonderful, happy worlds.
"There's a little bit of Sera in all of us."
How about you? Is there a lonely tween wavering inside?
I invite you to read more excerpts from The Year of The Rabbit, a Novel About Fate, Family and Forgiveness. Join others who enjoyed this piece of Canadian fiction. Download the first few chapters of the eBook for free from Smashwords.
Thanks for dropping by.
T
