“If You See Them: Younger, Unhoused, and Alone in America” by Vicki Sokolik
c.2024,
Spiegel and Grau
$30.00
336 pages
You’ve appeared in all places.
Within the closet, beneath the sink, within the corners of drawers and storage areas. You’ve opened totes, then taken your search outdoors, turned the storage upside-down, and checked each sq. inch of the again yard. Nothing. That confirms it. As creator Vicki Sokolik says in her new ebook “If You See Them,” America’s teenagers could also be affected by a hidden drawback.
Vicki Sokolik beloved to volunteer.
Rising up in a family of means in a palatial residence, she knew she was fortunate. She by no means went with out and, years later, neither did her youngsters, each of whom had been taught generosity and the spirit of giving. It was a great lesson, then when, as they had been delivering vacation meals to households close to their Florida residence one winter, Sokolik met a lady who reluctantly revealed that she was employed however couldn’t afford everlasting housing on her wage.
Sokolik was touched. She swung into motion, befriended the lady, taught her monetary fundamentals, and helped her discover housing. Ultimately, the lady requested Sokolik to maneuver on, to seek out another person to assist.
And so she did: Sokolik’s son was a compassionate soul. He fearful a few classmate who appeared to have little-to-nothing and once more, Sokolik seized the possibility to assist. Alas, it didn’t work out however the expertise taught her and her household one thing necessary.
Some teenagers in America are in disaster.
Formally, they’re referred to as “unaccompanied homeless youth,” however the actuality is harsher: they’re children who had been kicked out or selected to completely depart residence for a wide range of causes. As a result of they weren’t eliminated by social employees or the state, they’re not eligible for welfare or another help applications. They stick with pals or distant kinfolk that may have them, or they sleep on park benches. They get by, they usually fall by way of the cracks.
Few folks discover them, says Sokolik, as a result of they do a great job at staying hidden however she knew these children had been on the market. And he or she was going to do one thing about them…
For so long as there’ve been children, there have been children with out a place to eat, bathe, or lay their heads at night time. The factor, says creator Vicki Sokolik, is that these she writes about in “If You See Them” don’t need you to see them.
That appears odd till you already know their reasoning, and Sokolik helps with that. She exhibits readers how this nationwide subject occurred and what’s being performed about it, by way of reminiscences of her personal life, work, household, and essays written by the “children” she helped who are actually adults. Dip in, and see how simple their tales are to learn, even regardless of that lots of them will make you wince. Nonetheless, with out spoiling issues, you’ll be able to count on glad endings among the many unhappy tales.
You may also count on your coronary heart to be shattered.
This ebook is a gently pressing name to arms, a plea for consideration, and a great learn altogether. If you care about children, “If You See Them” is a ebook to search for.
