Abstract

A child on his way home from school stops on the bridge and stares down at the water. What would happen, he wonders, if he chose to jump off the bridge right now. An old man appears beside him and begins to talk, sharing a glimpse of a refuge deep inside the boy that belongs to him alone.
The book addresses with tenderness and compassion the challenging subject of despair and suicidal feelings, something many children experience but often cannot share with anyone. The tone is simple and direct, acknowledging the boy’s feelings as they are without dramatizing or judging. Rather than offering pat answers that assume we can banish such thoughts forever, the book shows how the boy learns to handle them, using the people in his life who care about him as an anchor. There is a relief for the reader in having such feelings acknowledged and a reassurance in knowing that someone understands. The illustrations compliment the tone of the story beautifully and give it added depth by capturing the unwritten details.
Noting that the number of suicides has risen, including among children, the author writes “I feel that we could do more to prevent children from taking their own lives…Although one picture book can never be a cure-all, I thought it might help if I could share how I have lived….As a child, I once looked down at the river from a bridge myself. I can still recall the heightened sense of awareness I experienced in that moment. In my case, it was a relationship with an adult that made me wish I could erase my existence…Although no old man in a snowflake-patterned sweater appeared for me, some strength inside my own heart and mind kicked in to keep me alive. When I saw the illustrations, I realized that the old man represents the memories and people that gave me that strength.”
There is an intimacy that makes this story accessible and invites the reader to share their own feelings, making this book a potential aid for adults who wish to reach out to vulnerable children and engage in conversations about a topic that is often avoided. It can also offer a reassuring and healing experience for young adult and adult readers.

Author’s Information

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