Anyone who has ever cultivated silkworms will be familiar with the generalities of the life cycle. I remember each year watching the various stages of the process and dutifully collecting great mountains of leaves from my grandparents’ mulberry tree to feed the seemingly endlessly hungry caterpillars. Mother taught me how to spin the silk to make beautiful silk bows, after which the pupa — lacking its silk cocoon once we had removed the silk — was carefully nurtured and protected in soft cloth until it eventually emerged as a moth. One might wonder what actually occurs within the cocoon as the caterpillar gradually becomes the moth or butterfly as the case may be. The metamorphosis is an unseen process and yet the outcome is quite remarkable.

Author Diane Guntrip reminds us of the personal and often private nature of this process as it could be applied to the very open and frank thoughts of a 12-year-old girl who uses her diary to write to her friend ‘H’ regarding her difficulties with life. The fictional diary covers a period of approximately 18 months and presents the innermost thoughts of the character, Amanda, as she endeavours to cope with her ongoing experiences of bullying. It highlights her battle with loneliness, depression, and low self-esteem. Amanda feels isolated from her parents and very much alone in her struggle until . . .

Dear H presents a very interesting approach to opening discussion with girls moving toward their teenage years. Different diary entries could certainly be utilised progressively in the form of case studies to explore feelings, actions and possible alternative solutions. While not all girls in this age group are either bullies or the target of bullying, I expect that there would be quite a number experiencing similar feelings, questions, doubts and challenges to those of Amanda — to a greater or lesser extent. Beyond the personal benefits girls might gain from the opportunity to explore their options and the directions they would like to take in life, is the fact that raising the awareness of individuals to the existence, dynamics and results of bullying can contribute to an increase in ongoing and genuine support for those who have fallen victim to bullying.

While I would not necessarily recommend this publication as one to be read in the absence of professional guidance and appropriate discussion, Dear H could prove a useful tool for those working with young girls, and has the potential to offer encouragement to those who are dealing with bullying. It may also prove helpful to parents who are seeking to gain an insight into some of the often hidden challenges and changes that are — like the caterpillar — concealed until the butterfly emerges.