In reading recent news reports about the two boys recently rescued from their kidnapper, I am reminded of a young adult novel I checked out and read a few years ago,
When Jeff Comes Home by Catherine Atkins. Like the real life teen, Jeff was kidnapped and then returns to his family and community years later. The novel is about the aftermath of Jeff's experience and how people treat him when he returns.
When I read this book, I felt like it was so graphic, and so mature, and then I caught myself and realized that I was judging this character's experience differently than I would if Jeff had been a female victim of this same crime...which I think is a reflection of our society's difficulty in handling male victimization.
I find myself thinking of this real teenager, and hoping that people will treat him with the same kindness and care as they would a female in the same situation. I've heard the rumblings of people's reactions blaming and questioning why he didn't leave when it seemed like there were clear opportunities, which I think adds "insult to injury" in this traumatic situation.
Just like in so many situations, I think reading this book and seeing the feelings and circumstances through Jeff's eyes can build empathy in real life situations.
