Bibliotherapy in the Bronx

Psychotherapist Rumble debuts with an earnest introduction to bibliotherapy, or the use of “literature to heal and teach new skills.” She details how acting out scenes from books, creating visual art inspired by characters, and writing letters to authors can open up “emotional and creative channels” for personal growth by encouraging patients to apply insights from stories to their lives, or better understand the perspectives of those from different backgrounds. Bibliotherapy can also foster communal healing, she notes, with libraries serving as sites for marginalized people to forge connections and develop a “positive racial identity” with the help of books that reflect their experiences (for example, Jason Reynolds’s Ghost, which stars a troubled young runner “who finds redemption on the track,” provides both a narrative of personal transformation and a celebration of the “resilience of Black communities”). While Rumble’s thesis that “books act like mirrors, giving comfort to those who feel broken” is hammered home a bit too often, she draws valuable links between literacy and “community mental health,” highlighting in particular the political threats posed by book bans that suppress “the experiences of the most vulnerable among us.” The result is a solid resource for mental health practitioners. (Apr.)