Capitola Book Cafe

What fun yesterday to read aloud a few sections of my novel at Capitola Book Cafe. I'm pretty shy when it comes to public readings (okay, near phobic), so it's a treat to stand before my local audience of supportive friends and readers. I read with another writer of young adult fiction, Ann Jaramillo (middle), who's written a terrific novel about a young Mexican boy trying to make his way north to the U.S. to join his parents. As I listened to her read, I realized that both of our novels revolve around children who have been separated from their parents and families and are dealing with the ensuing swirl of emotions -- fear, anger, and yes, excitement.

I'm always happy when CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) co-sponsors my readings because it's an opportunity to get a public discussion going about the plight of foster kids and parents who, because of drugs or their own mental/emotional limitations, are at risk of losing their kids to the system.
Coincidentally, the local alternative paper ran an article this same week about a recent rise in the official child abuse numbers in Santa Cruz, which are higher than the state average. I always caution audiences about the meaning of such numbers. Yes, the numbers may be high because of drug use and the high cost of living in Santa Cruz (two risk factors). But ironically, high numbers can be good signs -- that people's eyes are open and they are reporting more often. It can also mean that our community takes a broad definition of abuse that includes not only physical abuse, but the more insidious incidences of neglect and emotional abuse. To me, it's a positive that Santa Cruz is a rare county that considers exposure to ongoing domestic violence as a form of reportable child abuse. There may be no physical scars, but the most current brain studies warn how early childhood trauma actually rewires the brain in ways that can cause lifelong post-traumatic stress syndrome, which in turn can contribute to learning disabilities, drug dependence and a whole array of physical and emotional difficulties.

Thanks to Book Cafe, Ann and Joanne Sanchez of Santa Cruz CASA (left in above photo) for making yesterday such a meaningful community forum.