To mark International Women's Day, Vivian, our Books and Training Adviser, reviews Finding a Safe Place from Abuse.
What is the book about?
It’s about finding a safe house from an abusive person or an abusive partner. Carers and supporters can be abusive too.
In the story, Katie’s boyfriend abuses her and tells her, “You don’t need your family. You only need me.” He’s very possessive. He breaks her things and hurts her, but she gets help. A nurse refers her to a social worker to take her to a safe house, and the police come to the house to arrest the man (I call him the mouse – he’s not a man!). I’m happy he gets arrested. It’s not right what he did.
At the safe house they do re-enactments of abuse. Katie joins in and she stands up for herself. She says, “No! Show me some respect!” Her social worker helps her get a new flat and some new work. She’s got her confidence back!
Why is the book important?
This book is important to me because I know someone who had this happen to her. It’s okay though because she’s got new partner and a new job. She’s happy now.
Love is blind. If you’re being abused you can’t always see a way out. You can think that the person will change so you keep giving them chances, but you should walk away like Katie does.
Finding a Safe Place from Abuse is one of a pair of books addressing the issue of domestic abuse. The other book, When Dad Hurts Mum, concentrates on witnessing abuse between parents in the family home.