Split Survival Kit

This engaging, down to earth guide has been designed with great care to provide a practical road map to assist children and teenagers through the emotional journey encountered when parents decide to separate. One of the authors, Dr Angharad Rudkin is a Clinical Psychologist, specialising in children and family issues while Ruth Fitzgerald has written a hugely popular fiction series for the tween readership. The combination of clinical knowledge and skill at writing for the 10/11+ audience, combined with Stef Murphy's artwork make this a book that youngsters will want to pick up and learn from, if they sadly find themselves facing this circumstance.

Starting from the premise that parental separation is a journey on which most people would not wish to embark, the book proposes to set out ten steps to help children navigate the emotional path, discussing all the steps along the way and giving young people the vocabulary they need to articulate their feelings. The ten chapters are broken into sections which include real life stories of young people who have already experienced these issues; advice on ways to think differently and empathetically about a situation; practical exercises to help manage emotions and journal writing or drawing hints to help youngsters track their feelings through the process.

The design and layout of the chapters has been done with great skill to ensure that the advice is accessible to all. The images convey information clearly and sympathetically; text is broken into chunks, often contained in panels which resemble pages ripped from a notebook or in bullet journal-style layout, with arrows and bullet points highlighting summaries or key points. Readers are guided through the process from the initial thought that perhaps they can encourage their parents to change track and stay together, to acceptance, to dealing with their own feelings, managing anxieties and finding the answers to questions that cause anxiety, learning how to talk about their family situation to others without embarrassment, how to cope when parents behave badly, how to deal with life split between two houses and the introduction of new family members and how to manage the impact on their own future emotional life.

Throughout the book there is a tone of positivity and calmness, readers are encouraged to look for the positives in their situation, advice is given on how to take control of those aspects which they can manage, and to accept that some things cannot be changed. It is made clear from the start that children are in no way to blame for parental separation and that their feelings are important and need to be discussed with the adults in their life. At the end of the book there are contact details for organisations which can supply further advice and help if needed, there is also a very helpful glossary of terms which children might hear during the family court process. While no book can take the place of personal discussion with responsible adults or even clinicians, this title is likely to be a very valuable addition to the wellbeing collections in school, public and even healthcare libraries, with its expert writing for children of 10+, presenting reassurance and practical guidance at a time of family break-up.

I am grateful to NetGalley and to Wren &amp; Rook/Hachette Children's Group for allowing me access to a pre-publication. electronic version of <strong><em>Split Survival Kit</em></strong> in exchange for my honest opinion.

This books offers practical advice and self-help ideas for young people dealing with their family splitting up. Each chapter looks at one aspect of what is happening, such as navigating your emotions, dealing with changes such as living in two houses, or getting to know new family members. The book then offers ideas to help you to not only manage your feelings about what is happening, but to find ways to talk about it, negotiate your fears, and make positive practical changes. It also has lots of short, real life stories from other young people about what it was like for them.

I really enjoyed this book. As an adult who went through two family breakups when I was a child, this was a book I wish had existed back then. The advice in the book is fantastic, full of wonderful situation specific plans, and calm, sensible ideas to help any child who is dealing with a family divorce or separation. But more than this, it was written in a way that felt like the author really understood and was almost listening to you as you read it. It was like having a good friend or counsellor who really understands what you are going through, listens and then offers to help. The real testimonies were a lovely addition, letting children know the feelings they are having are normal and that many other people have been in the same situation. I also loved the simple practical ideas and plans to help you take charge of what is happening and feel less powerless.