DISCLAIMER: The Semicolon and any accompanying resources are intended to facilitate conversations with young people about mental well-being, coping with loss, and/or emotional resilience. They are NOT intended to diagnose or treat mental disorders, and they are NOT a substitute for professional treatment from qualified healthcare providers. Conversations about mental illness, including depression, or suicidal ideation are best led by trained medical professionals, which the author of this book is not. Neither the author nor publisher shall be held responsible for any harm that results from the use or misuse of the book and these resources.
Reader Guide: Talking Points in The Semicolon
The Semicolon is an upper-level picture book that depicts a child narrator struggling to cope after the loss of their father. It deals with the themes of depression, grief, emotional resilience, and finding hope after loss. The book is intended to be read and discussed with children ages 5 and older. The Semicolon may also be a useful aid for conversations and/or bibliotherapy activities facilitated by trained mental health professionals. In order to meet readers where they are - including as their needs and experiences change - the book is deliberately nuanced with many layers of interpretation, as well as plot-driven to engage young audiences who might otherwise be put off by heavy-handed, didactic messaging.
Here are some of the main talking points built into the book:
Who do you see?
The child narrator is not named, nor is their gender specified in the text or illustrations. The book’s back matter uses gender-neutral language. This allows individual readers to perceive (and potentially identify with) the main character as they need to.
When grief becomes something else
The Semicolon can be (and often is) read as a story about the overwhelming and painful experience of grief. However, sometimes grief can become something else, prolonging the struggle to cope. In The Semicolon, the main character is grieving, but they are also experiencing a major depressive episode. While grief is a normal (though never easy) reaction to loss, drastic life changes such as losing a loved one are common triggers for depression. Grief and depression can co-exist, but they are not the same thing. This book is informed by the knowledge that it can be harmful to those with depression to have their experience interpreted as grief and vice versa.
Emotional literacy, self-awareness & recognizing potential symptoms of depression
The main character’s depression in The Semicolon is not stated outright. Instead, it is implied through the story and artwork, such as through the child’s persistent sadness, recurring nightmare, inability to communicate, sense of hopelessness, stomach aches, loss of interest in a previously loved activity (soccer), and lack of appetite. All of these are potential symptoms of depression in children (though not an exhaustive list). For younger children, The Semicolon offers a great way to build emotional literacy by exploring the unspoken indicators that the main character is going through a hard time.
Gaining perspective on difficult thoughts and feelings
The thoughts, feelings and emotions associated with painful experiences, including mental illness, can be overwhelming in the moment and drown out any sense of hope for the future. The semicolon symbolism conveys the idea that our thoughts are not objective truths and that there is life, with all its potential for good things, to be found on the other side of dark times. For mental health professionals, this aspect of the book can be useful for illustrating and challenging the nature of cognitive distortions.
Fostering empathy & understanding for others
Page 5 of the book depicts the main character’s mother struggling with her own grief and mental health, though she is shown elsewhere to be a loving parent. For some people, gaining insight into what those around them are going through can be helpful in strengthening interpersonal relationships and/or feeling less alone through difficult times. Many parents have used The Semicolon to introduce the concept of depression in themselves with children, as the book sensitively illustrates many aspects of the experience.
Here are some of the main talking points built into the book:
Who do you see?
The child narrator is not named, nor is their gender specified in the text or illustrations. The book’s back matter uses gender-neutral language. This allows individual readers to perceive (and potentially identify with) the main character as they need to.
When grief becomes something else
The Semicolon can be (and often is) read as a story about the overwhelming and painful experience of grief. However, sometimes grief can become something else, prolonging the struggle to cope. In The Semicolon, the main character is grieving, but they are also experiencing a major depressive episode. While grief is a normal (though never easy) reaction to loss, drastic life changes such as losing a loved one are common triggers for depression. Grief and depression can co-exist, but they are not the same thing. This book is informed by the knowledge that it can be harmful to those with depression to have their experience interpreted as grief and vice versa.
Emotional literacy, self-awareness & recognizing potential symptoms of depression
The main character’s depression in The Semicolon is not stated outright. Instead, it is implied through the story and artwork, such as through the child’s persistent sadness, recurring nightmare, inability to communicate, sense of hopelessness, stomach aches, loss of interest in a previously loved activity (soccer), and lack of appetite. All of these are potential symptoms of depression in children (though not an exhaustive list). For younger children, The Semicolon offers a great way to build emotional literacy by exploring the unspoken indicators that the main character is going through a hard time.
Gaining perspective on difficult thoughts and feelings
The thoughts, feelings and emotions associated with painful experiences, including mental illness, can be overwhelming in the moment and drown out any sense of hope for the future. The semicolon symbolism conveys the idea that our thoughts are not objective truths and that there is life, with all its potential for good things, to be found on the other side of dark times. For mental health professionals, this aspect of the book can be useful for illustrating and challenging the nature of cognitive distortions.
Fostering empathy & understanding for others
Page 5 of the book depicts the main character’s mother struggling with her own grief and mental health, though she is shown elsewhere to be a loving parent. For some people, gaining insight into what those around them are going through can be helpful in strengthening interpersonal relationships and/or feeling less alone through difficult times. Many parents have used The Semicolon to introduce the concept of depression in themselves with children, as the book sensitively illustrates many aspects of the experience.
Download this Reading Guide as a printable PDF.
Activities & Discussion Guides for The Semicolon
IMPORTANT: All activities here have been reviewed by mental health professionals to ensure they can safely support difficult conversations; however, the sensitive and potentially triggering nature of mental health reflections means that any use of these resources should be undertaken with discretion. Adults are strongly advised to review the resources and reflect on their own answers and experiences before starting these conversations with youth.
Discussion Questions:
1. In the book, the main character can't "put words together" to explain to Mr. Smeechie that nothing makes sense inside. Has there ever been a time you didn't have the words to say how you were feeling?
2. Sometimes, we may not know what we are feeling, especially when our emotions are very big or confusing, or when we are feeling many emotions at once. In these instances, what are some steps you could take to figure out your feelings? Some ideas include: writing down your thoughts, drawing a picture, or talking it out with someone you trust.
3. The main character in the book never says "I'm sad," but lots of clues tell us they are going through a hard time. What clues can you find in the words and pictures? Did any resonate especially with you?
4. Asking for help is important but not always easy. In the book, the main character never asks Mr. Smeechie or Mom for help with their terrible dream because words aren't fitting easily together. Why else might someone not ask for help when they are going through a hard time? What can you do to make sure you are able to be there if someone asks you for help?
5. Why do you think the semicolon is the favourite symbol of the main character's father? What does the semicolon tell us about difficult experiences?
1. In the book, the main character can't "put words together" to explain to Mr. Smeechie that nothing makes sense inside. Has there ever been a time you didn't have the words to say how you were feeling?
2. Sometimes, we may not know what we are feeling, especially when our emotions are very big or confusing, or when we are feeling many emotions at once. In these instances, what are some steps you could take to figure out your feelings? Some ideas include: writing down your thoughts, drawing a picture, or talking it out with someone you trust.
3. The main character in the book never says "I'm sad," but lots of clues tell us they are going through a hard time. What clues can you find in the words and pictures? Did any resonate especially with you?
4. Asking for help is important but not always easy. In the book, the main character never asks Mr. Smeechie or Mom for help with their terrible dream because words aren't fitting easily together. Why else might someone not ask for help when they are going through a hard time? What can you do to make sure you are able to be there if someone asks you for help?
5. Why do you think the semicolon is the favourite symbol of the main character's father? What does the semicolon tell us about difficult experiences?
Use Your Own Semicolon: (Coming Soon)
