The Tunnel by Sara Howden

 Bibliography: 

Howden, Sarah. The Tunnel. Owlkids March 15, 2022. Tundra Book Group, ISBN 9781771474276

Plot Summary:

A young boy is presented to us in Sarah Howden's novel The Tunnel; he is unnamed, but it is clear to the reader that he has gone through a dreadful ordeal. We never learn what he has gone through in the novel other than the fact that he occasionally uses a shovel to break the stillness. We can tell that some of his family members are trying to support him and communicate with him. But he never converses with them; instead, he simply remains silent and lets people talk to him while keeping to himself.

Critical Analysis:

The reader may use the novel The Tunnel by Sarah Howden as a window into the world of a student with emotional disturbance (ED). Although the reader is never told what exactly occurs to the book's protagonist, we do know that something negative did occur to him. The reader is given permission to observe that people with emotional disturbance (ED) do find it difficult to open up to those who frequently inquire about their well-being. The reader may observe that people with emotional disturbance (ED) frequently merely need a short period of alone before returning to the people they care about. 

Reviews:

"A quiet, subtle exploration of loss ... useful both as a choice for a mourning child and for kids wanting to understand a grieving friend."

- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books – STARRED REVIEW 

"A young boy carves a path through grief in this moving picture book." - Foreword Reviews – STARRED REVIEW

"An effective tool to open discussion about grief with individuals or small groups of children."              -Booklist

"Both metaphor and meditation, this touching, lovely story is a conversation-opener between children and caregivers dealing with loss; it recognizes the need to be alone, as well as the merits and comfort of finding one’s way to loved ones."- School Library Journal

"Howden has written a soothing book of bibliotherapy embedded in a quiet story ... a worthy addition to picture bookshelves."- Canadian Review of Materials

Awards:

USBBY Outstanding International Book, 2023

CCBC Choices, 2023

A Best Children's Book of the Year, 2022

Best Books for Kids and Teens, 2022

Connections:

This book about grief or anything tragic which can happen where a student could benefit from.

Development: Social and Emotional Learning

Much like how the women in Telling Stories, by Julia Lopez-Robertson, we as readers learned that women can need other women to help bring them up.