Mia's Secret

He comes again and again. Mia tries to stop him, but now he’s angry with her. If only she hadn’t made the promise. Then, Mia has an idea. Tikki has promised nothing. Maybe Tikki can speak to her mother and stop the hurt at last.

For children caught in abuse, there often seems to be no way out. Mia’s Secret offers a way and helps children see that even “trusted” adults are wrong to involve them in anything they cannot share with others. Written in clear, concise language and endorsed by The Gatehouse, Mia’s Secret is a reassuring read for the one in four children who eventually experience sexual abuse. And it’s an ounce of prevention for any child who might not otherwise recognize the signs that signal danger.

Mia is little and feeling utterly powerless. She has promised to keep a secret, but now this secret feels wrong. And now that she has played the secret game, she is frightened — frightened that “he” will be angry if she tells, frightened that no one will understand. Only her stuffed bear, Tikki, has seen everything and knows how much this secret hurts.

He comes again and again. Mia tries to stop him, but now he’s angry with her. If only she hadn’t made the promise. Then, Mia has an idea. Tikki has promised nothing. Maybe Tikki can speak to her mother and stop the hurt at last.

For children caught in abuse, there often seems to be no way out. Mia’s Secret offers a way and helps children see that even “trusted” adults are wrong to involve them in anything they cannot share with others. Written in clear, concise language and endorsed by The Gatehouse, Mia’s Secret is a reassuring read for the one in four children who eventually experience sexual abuse. And it’s an ounce of prevention for any child who might not otherwise recognize the signs that signal danger.

Children's Literature

Mia's secret is the sexual abuse she is suffering at the hands of her mother's new friend. The feelings of fear, uncertainty, and confusion are skillfully portrayed through the eyes of a preschool child. As is often the case, the abuser (unnamed in this short story) coerces Mia so she will not tell their secret. In an insightful ploy, Mia gets around this by using her teddy bear to tell the secret to her mother. Using bright drawings mixed with collage, Mets and Ledwon portray Mia as a cute four or five year old, and her abuser as an ordinary looking man of indeterminate age. He is not seen as a monster, but simply a friend of the family. The ending of the story is wisely left incomplete; once we learn that Mia has told her story, we are not given any additional information. This leaves it up to the parent, caregiver, or professional counselor to help a child understand what happens next. The notes at the end give advice about how to deal with this issue when it does arise. This book could be used either in homes or classrooms to help educate children about the lessons of healthy and safe touching versus unhealthy and unsafe touching. As children see Mia handle the "secret" aspect of her abuse, they will be given the tools to use if the need arises. Ledwon deals sensitively and carefully with a subject that is often taboo in a children's book. Mia's Secret should be a part of every preschool classroom's curriculum.

Peter Ledwon has worked as a commercial photographer, illustrator, graphic designer, and art director for the past fifteen years. He studied photography at Ryerson University in Toronto and holds science degrees in physiology and biochemistry from the University of British Columbia. Peter is also a magazine and newsletter freelance writer.

Marilyn Mets has been working as an illustrator, art director, and graphic designer for over twenty-five years. She has illustrated and collaborated on numerous children's books, and her work has garnered many awards and nominations including a nomination for the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbons Award for Illustration in 1998 for her work on Cameron and Me.