How books can help with worries about school

Published on: 15 August 2024

Test Trouble author Serena Patel shares the way that books can offer comfort during times of change and stress.

Photo: Tania Morris

A new school year can mean all sorts of change, big and small. New teachers, perhaps new classmates, maybe new buildings to navigate and new subjects to learn. Is it the first school year, or maybe the last? Change evokes lots of feelings: excitement, nerves, dread, happiness, hope... nerves again?

When I think back to my school days, I remember the anxious swirling in my stomach, feeling awkward about walking in on the first day, the worry about not knowing where things were or what I was supposed to do. Never quite feeling like I fitted in. Never having the confidence to be myself.

As a child, I always assumed that I was the only one who felt all these things. Looking back with perspective, I now realise there were lots of other children in my class who felt the same too. We just didn't talk about it. I guess we didn't know how.

I myself dealt with much of life by burying my head in a book. It was an escape but I suppose I was also looking for something - for information, reassurance, comfort and hope. And actually even now, in times of worry or change, I still turn to books. They have always been there for me.

And growing up, the best books were the ones about being different, overcoming an obstacle, facing our fears. They always made me feel a little bit braver, a little less alone. That's the power of stories, isn't it, the power to reflect our lives, bringing feelings we might not feel able to talk about into the light. A story can deal with a tricky situation in a gentle way, sometimes with humour.

Books can help us understand ourselves and others. And I think I write because I learned from books that words can hold so much power. Reading about someone who has the same worries as us or is someone we can relate to can be reassuring, validating and empowering.

I'd like to share a couple of excellent books that I've read in these past few months. All are great for reading together or by yourself.

• The first is The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow, which I think taps into feelings about change perfectly.
• The Cheat Book by Ramzee is an illustrated chapter book which is hilarious and clever.
• The Extremely Embarassing Life of Lottie Brooks by Katie Kirby is also a very funny, relatable read for those making the move to big school.
• The Wrong Shoes by Tom Percival is great for opening up conversations in the classroom and will resonate sadly with many children, but also hopefully create empathy and understanding as great books do.
• I also recently bought a copy of Moving Up by Christian Foley, which is a useful resource for that transition to secondary school.
• And of course, I also still love picture books which can be so emotive at any age. I Am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child is a great read with little ones.

In my books I try to write characters who try their hardest to be their best selves. They don't always get it right, especially when faced with change. In fact, sometimes they have a downright disaster and that's okay because none of us are perfect and life is full of those ups and downs.

I think it's so important for children to see this in books, to find comfort in seeing that everyone's life is messy. Change IS hard but stories have that great power of letting us know we're not alone and that it will be okay.

Test Trouble by Serena Patel, illustrated by Louise Forshaw, is out now.