Rohan Bullkin and the Shadows: A Story about ACEs and Hope by Juleus Ghunta

caribbeanchildrensbooks, ,
Cover image via CaribbeanReads

Childhood can be brutal.

Some of the authors I admire most have been able to reflect on difficult childhood trauma and create art, holding those experiences up to the light and processing them. In children’s literature, these personal, heartfelt #OwnVoices works tell a difficult story with truth and compassion. Books like this form a vital “mirror” for children in similar circumstances. I received an advance copy of Rohan Bullkin and the Shadows to review, and I am adding it to the list of books that can help children cope with difficulties in their lives.

This is “a story about ACES and Hope.” So what are ACEs?

ACEs stands for adverse childhood experiences. Although there can be slight variations depending on the list you look at, adverse childhood experiences include abuse, neglect, a family member who abuses substances, a family member who is incarcerated, a family member with mental illness, and parents’ divorce or separation. More recent additions to the list of ACEs include poverty, child labor, racism, gender discrimination, community violence, and homelessness (See What are ACEs from Joining Forces for Children, and also Rohan Bullkin and the Shadows, p. 32-36.) I have previously reviewed a book about a child with an incarcerated parent (Mama’s Nightingale) and a book involving parental separation (Across the Bay), but this book applies more broadly to any of the Adverse Childhood Experiences.

In this story, the emphasis is less on the trauma itself, and more on the ripple effects that has on a child’s ability to learn and manage emotions. The words describing the trauma are very simple. They say, “Sometimes his home is a hurricane.” (The illustrations paint a more specific picture, with bottles of alcohol, with Rohan’s parents yelling and breaking things, and later yelling at their children.)

For Rohan, the effects of the trauma he experiences at home are described as Shadows. The Shadows give him terrible nightmares. The Shadows make him hate reading at school. When he is asked to read, they make his mind go blank or keep his mind racing.

“Sometimes his mind goes completely blank, as though he’s walking in the dark in a strange place. Other times it refuses to shut down, making him feel like he’s in a race without an end.”

Rohan Bullkin and The Shadows

Like so many lonely, misunderstood children before him, Rohan is saved by a book.

In the story, there’s a magical moment where a book falls off the shelf and talks to him. As he prepares to act out his hatred of reading and rip the book’s cover, the book suggests they be friends instead. The book is called “How to Read.” It is based on an essay, also called “How to Read,” written by the famous Jamaican-born activist Marcus Garvey.

“Are all books magical like you?” Rohan asks.

“Most books are magical. Some are medicine. Some are mirrors. Some are bridges. Some are keys. Some are windows to new ways of seeing, feeling, and being. Read these books and you’ll discover your magical powers too.”

Rohan Bullkin and The Shadows

Soon, Rohan is reading! Reading is difficult, but Rohan works with a tutor who helps him. He follows Marcus Garvey’s advice to look up difficult words in the dictionary, and to read while waiting or traveling, opening his mind to many subjects. Gradually, the Shadows are losing their power over Rohan, and even though his mind sometimes races, he re-reads and continues learning. He learns to speak his truth, and his books help him understand the nameless Shadows and how they have affected him.

In the pictures and the words, we see his reading as a turning point opening up new possibilities. Books open up a wide world of imagination. We see him speaking to his parents, making friends, getting exercise, going to family counseling, and seeing improvements in his life. The book explains that it takes courage to speak up and keep trying even when the Shadows make it difficult, but that there are books and people who can help children learn and heal. It is a story about hope. It’s especially powerful coming from Juleus Ghunta, who based it on events in his own life.

While the story is approachable for children, worded on a level they can understand, and sensitively illustrated, there is also a lot of good information for adults found in the introduction, and the appendices about Adverse Childhood Experiences and about Marcus Garvey. I recommend this practical and uplifting title to librarians, educators, parents, and mental health professionals.

Update for Fall 2022: New Companion Title!

The author/illustrator team that brought you Rohan Bullkin and the Shadows have released a Notebook of Words and Ideas. Following Marcus Garvey’s advice, and Rohan’s example, this book can help readers record their thoughts as they become readers. It includes a letter from the author, inspiring quotes, and illustrations, as well as blank and lined pages for the reader’s notes. I think these two books together could be a great gift for a struggling reader!

The details for this Caribbean children’s book:

This book is an #OwnVoices title with both author and illustrator coming from Jamaica.

Leave a comment