The Tunnel by Sarah Howden
A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Howden, S.2022.THE TUNNEL.Ill. by Rodriquez-Medina, E. Owlkids Books. ISBN: 978-1771474276
B. PLOT SUMMARY
After something bad happens, a boy feels sad and gray, unwilling to talk about it with anyone. So he picks up a shovel and starts digging a tunnel from his room, deep down and into the backyard. Out there, far from the lights of the house, it’s dark enough that he could disappear. But the quiet distance also gives him the space he needs to see his family’s love and start returning home. Quiet, emotionally resonant text is paired with grayscale drawings accented with red in this thoughtfully layered exploration of coping with tough emotions, and taking time and space to heal.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS( INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Grief is painful and can, in many instances, leave people desperate to escape the gut-wrenching feeling of emptiness left in their heart and soul by any means. Sadly, grief does not limit itself to any one specific age group. Sarah Howden tells a heartwarming story of a child who is experiencing some sort of sadness which he can not process because of his age. He wishes to be alone as if because there are no words to console him, so he escapes his reality through a “tunnel.” The author brilliantly adds to the somber tone of the story by using mostly gray tones to emphasize the presence of sadness, despair, and unresolved feelings. She uses the “tunnel” to represent the child’s journey to healing as he leaves the realm of reality and goes to a place with no pain. Although culture is not directly referenced in this story, the boy’s reaction and the coping mechanism he uses to combat grief may be attributed to the culture the family developed at home. Religion, ethnicity, and other beliefs play an important role in how emotions are expressed and processed.
As an educator, I feel this book would be a great resource for teaching children about emotions and how to deal with them. Because of the complexity of the message, this book would be best suited for students aged 8 to middle school.
D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
USBBY Outstanding International Book
School Library Journal: "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."
ALA Booklist:“A boy, sitting alone, says, "Something bad happened." The specifics are not explained, but the house is empty except for him, his mother, and occasional adult visitors. Possibly his father has left or died. From this realistic premise, the story takes a fantastical direction as the boy copes by digging a hole through his bedroom floor, traveling down through a tunnel, experiencing the novelty of being underground, and emerging in his backyard. He briefly considers disappearing but sees his mother through the window and decides to return home. The tunnel is a manifestation of his mental state and desire to leave the sadness behind. Outside, he appreciates the light the moon provides, then draws a connection between the moon and his mom. Back inside, he acknowledges "the secret places' ' he and his mother both have, the pain they keep to themselves, though he is glad they are together. The illustrations are non threatening, but the text explores complex emotional responses. An effective tool to open discussion about grief with individuals or small groups of children.”
E. CONNECTIONS
**Students can make connections after reading on why they think the mom’s face is compared to the moon?
**Students can write about a time they felt sad and what they did to feel better.
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