The Tunnel

 

Howden, S., & Rodriguez Medina, E. (2022). The Tunnel. Owlkids Books.

ISBN: 978-1771474276

Plot Summary:

After something bad happens, a boy feels sad and gray. Mom and Aunt Cheryl try to talk about it, but he feels like running away. So he picks up a shovel and starts digging a tunnel from his room, deep down and into the backyard. Out there, far from the lights of the house, it’s dark enough that he could disappear. But the quiet distance also gives him the space he needs to see his family’s love and start returning home.

As he heads back, the journey upward is different. He notices familiar details and tunes into his senses. The tunnel isn’t so scary this time. The boy emerges into his room just as Mom peeks in. When she notices a twig in his hair, he is ready to talk about the tunnel and finds warmth in her gentle acknowledgement: “You came back.”

Quiet, emotionally resonant text is paired with grayscale drawings accented with red in this thoughtfully layered exploration of coping with tough emotions, and taking time and space to heal.

-Amazon

Analysis:

Written by Canadian author, Sarah Howden, this touching story is deep and poignant. The young child in the story is navigating grief after an unnamed tragedy leaves their home feeling empty… just him and his mom. Erika Rodriguez Medina’s illustrations, done in grey-scale with red accents, are dark and somber. Curiously, our young characters flushed cheeks and muddy knees and elbows (brushed with red)  give signs of life in the dark landscape. The story shows the healing power of retreat, and the beauty of coming back. The mothers’ immediate acceptance of the child's explanation is a beautiful tribute to motherhood and surviving grief. This is a sad but beautiful story with wonderful connections for anyone who feels loss or sadness.

Book Reviews:

"Both metaphor and meditation, this touching, lovely story is a conversation-opener between children and caregivers dealing with loss; it recognizes the need to be alone, as well as the merits and comfort of finding one’s way to loved ones." 

― School Library Journal

A boy, sitting alone, says, "Something bad happened." The specifics are not explained, but the house is empty except for him, his mother, and occasional adult visitors. Possibly his father has left or died. From this realistic premise, the story takes a fantastical direction as the boy copes by digging a hole through his bedroom floor, traveling down through a tunnel, experiencing the novelty of being underground, and emerging in his backyard. He briefly considers disappearing but sees his mother through the window and decides to return home. The tunnel is a manifestation of his mental state and desire to leave the sadness behind. Outside, he appreciates the light the moon provides, then draws a connection between the moon and his mom. Back inside, he acknowledges "the secret places" he and his mother both have, the pain they keep to themselves, though he is glad they are together. The illustrations are nonthreatening, but the text explores complex emotional responses. An effective tool to open discussion about grief with individuals or small groups of children.

Whitehurst, L. (2022). The Tunnel. Booklist, 118(13), 66.

Connections:

This book would be an incredible addition to SEL materials and should be available to school counselors. The story illustrates grief in language that is simple, but acknowledges the complexities of loss.

Awards:

CCBC Choice Award

USBBY Outstanding International Book Award, 2023

This review was created as an assignment for SHSU LSSL 5361.