Customer Reviews

Dear Sebastian: Reclaiming the Power of Metaphor

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On the surface, this is a book of letters from a grandmother to her grandschild. The grandchild, Sebastian, appears to be a difficult child, distruptive, defined by the school as a developmentally disabled child. I initially felt uncomfortable at reading the descriptions of Sebastian's anger, his actions, his problems. But as I continued to read his grandmother's thoughts, she went way beyond those initial static moments. In writing to Sebastian, she clarifies things and expands them into myth, metaphor, science, yet still ties together the child's behaviours and the adult's thoughts and conclusions.

I especially appreciated the way Sebastion was given alternate behaviors, to expand his self and recognize his self beyond anger or disruption. His parents learned how to recognize precursors to problems, and how to involve him in activities like soccer, hockey and karate to expend his energy. Sebastian learned how to change, how to deal with his anger issues, and so did his parents and grandmother. Reading about his accomplishments was wonderful, seeing how he could change himself and his world around him.

My son, now grown, had some of these same types of problems, and I often felt like the worst mother in the world. I wish I had been able to read this book when he was two, and five, and nine... but I can read it now and still learn from it.

This is a very touching story about a grandmother dealing with a grandchild that has behavioral problems. The book is laid out in letter form and addresses a letter to "Dear Sebastian" with each chapter. The book talks about how fear is the greatest friend that we can have because it makes us stronger. This is a good book for someone that is dealing with a child with behavioral problems. This book explains how Sebastian started having problems as a baby and how they help Sebastian to control his behavior.

This book is poignant. Very, very full. It will stay with you long after it's over.

Written as a series of letters to Sebastian, a child with learning and behavioral challenges, 'Dear Sebastian' draws on Eastern religion and mystic/New Age philophies (i.e. "The Hungry Ghost Realm, Psychoenergetic Science) to reason an explanation for anger, fear, and other emotions or states that often lead to difficult or unreasonable behavior. The author's writing is lyrical and deep and while she presents ideas without being preachy or pushy, the book does include extensive references and deep delves into weighty ideas.

Wrapped up in the 17th, and final, letter, the reader is offered several "reasons" for Sebastian's angry childhood reactions and demeanor, which could serve as resolution or consolation for loved ones of ADD, ADHD or ODD children.

While Tora doesn't present easy or "how-to" answers to loved ones dealing with problematic behavior in children, it may offer relief or insight previously undiscovered or offered. For that reason, I recommend this book.

When I picked up this book, I didn't know what to expect. As a writer, the promise of metaphor intrigued me. As an artist, the book's cover reminded me of powerful art by my students.

In "Dear Sebastian," the author shares some startling insights -- some lovely, and some very untidy and challenging -- about life. They're presented as letters to the adult that a remarkable child, Sebastian, will become.

For me, this book is a launchpad. In its pages, the author talks about a variety of spiritual concepts that are new to me. She's woven a diverse collection of breakthroughs and discoveries, including exciting mind-body connections, that I want to learn more about.

For adults, I think this book is about change. I say "for adults" because she's talking about recovering a sense of faith (belief in the invisible, and in what cannot be proved yet) that faded -- to jaded -- for many of us.

She's revisiting the sense of wonder that many of us had naturally as children, but lost touch with as we matured.

If I had to choose one line from this book to explain what it's about, it'd be this: "... change happens when we allow ourselves the grace to be made metaphors of Spirit."

This book is about Spirit and about metaphors in daily life. But, for me, it's mostly about the elegant beauty of grace and how that grace makes positive change natural and easy.

I like this book. There are so many layers to it, this is the kind of book that unfolds more with each reading. I look forward to the changes that it will inspire.

Problem children are sometimes harder to deal with than usual. "Dear Sebastian: Reclaiming the Power of Metaphor" is a memoir by Sebastian's mother, faced with her son's constant outbursts and problems in school. Nothing seemed to work, except one thing... Tora writes the book as letters to her son in the future, hoping to demonstrate how they helped him out of his path to illiteracy and other problems. Inner power and transformation are key issues, and "Dear Sebastian" shows how they can be applied to children quite well.