for literacy skills in order for a person to be able to address emotional
turmoil in healthy or constructive ways. The second theory came out of
work I did for my book, Adolescents at Risk: A Guide to Fiction and
Nonfiction for Young Adults, Parents and Professionals (Greenwood
Press, 1993), and my involvement in working with teachers and students
in middle and secondary schools. Some of the emotional baggage our
youth bring to school is way too heavy for them to handle without help.
These students simply cannot handle additional academic responsibilities
when they are "not right" emotionally.

Well-educated adults who experience intense emotional pain, whether
it is from the loss of a loved one or from a traumatic event, have several
options available for dealing with their feelings. Most will find comfort
in talking with friends or family members, and some will resort to read-
ing books to find the help they need. For example, reading Dr. Elizabeth
Kübler-Ross's five stages for coping with death--denial, anger, bargain-
ing, depression, and acceptance or growth--might help a person under-
stand the various stages he or she is going through after the death of a
friend or relative. Sometimes, however, additional help is needed when
an individual is experiencing extreme emotions and is unable to handle
them.

Consider a mother whose improper left-hand turn causes the death of
her seven-year-old daughter and the injury of her four-year-old daughter.
It is quite probable that the mother will need to seek additional help from
a therapist who will help her deal with such a trauma. A psychologist
or psychiatrist will, more than likely, get her to talk openly about her
feelings, read some books written by others who have survived such a
tragedy, and do regular journal writing. A psychiatrist may also prescribe
some medication during this emotionally challenging time. This parent's
literacy skills of talking, reading, and writing are essential to her getting
through this difficult period of her life.

Now, consider her four-year-old daughter who is also experiencing
extreme grief over the loss of her beloved older sister. If this child is
taken to counseling, the therapist will probably get her to talk, role-play,
and draw out her feelings. These are the literacy skills appropriate to the
developmental level of a four-year-old child. Such a child, if not taken

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