February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. As parents and trusted adults, it’s important that to know about resources that can help teens identify the warning signs of unhealthy or abusive relationships, as well as healthy relationships. The books listed below are narrated by teens experiencing relationship struggles. Teens in your life may relate to them. Suggesting that they read one or two books from this list could spark a deeper conversation about safety, relationship boundaries, and what consent looks like. Please consider sharing this reading list with young adults in your life. All books listed below are available through the Columbus Metropolitan Library (www.columbuslibrary.org).

Teen Dating Abuse

• The Girl Who Fell by S.M. Parker.
  Focus: Teen dating abuse – physical, verbal, emotional
  Written from the main female character’s perspective
  For young adults, 17+
  
• The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu
  Focus: High school gossip/rumors, unhealthy relationships
  Each chapter is written from a different high school character’s perspective
  For ages 16-18
  
• The Lost Marble Notebook of Forgotten Girl & Random Boy by Marie Jaskulka
  Focus: Teen dating abuse and teen exposure to domestic violence at home
  Each chapter contains pieces from the main female or male characters’ journal
  For ages 14-18
  

Sexual Assault

• Exit, Pursued By a Bear by E.K. Johnston
  Focus: Teen sexual assault, positive support from best friend & family
  Written from the main female character’s perspective
  For ages 14-16
  
• Inexcusable by Chris Lynch
  Focus: Teen sexual assault
  Written from the accused male’s perspective
  For ages 14-18
  
• Punch Like A Girl by Karen Krossing
  Focus: Sexual assault and specifics about a domestic violence shelter
  Written from the main female character’s perspective
  For ages 14-18
  

Healthy

• I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios
  Focus: Healthy relationships
  Written from the main female character’s perspective
  For ages 14+
  
• My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
  Focus: Healthy relationships
  Written from the main female character’s perspective
  For ages 16-18
  
• Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
  Focus: Trusting high school relationship, exposure to domestic violence at home
  Written from narrator’s perspective, alternating chapters between Eleanor’s and Park’s point of view
  For ages 16-18
  

If you know a teen that may be in an unhealthy and/or abusive relationship, please encourage them to reach out to LoveIsRespect. LoveIsRespect is the ultimate resource to empower youth to prevent and end dating abuse. It is a project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Highly-trained LoveIsRespect advocates offer support, information and advocacy to young people who have questions or concerns about their dating relationships. They also provide information and support to concerned friends and family members, teachers, counselors, service providers and members of law enforcement. Free and confidential phone, live chat and texting services are available 24/7/365.

• Chat at loveisrespect.org
• Text “loveis” to 22522
• Call 1-866-331-9474

Bystanders who believe they may be witnessing an unhealthy or abusive teen relationship, may reach out to Where’s The Line? via phone, text or live chat. Bystanders can be anyone, including friends, family members, teachers, neighbors, or coaches. The Information Coordinator can help direct bystanders to resources and provide anonymous answers and advice, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

• Chat at WheresTheLine.info
• Text 87028
• Call 1-844-234-LINE (5463)

The Center for Family Safety and Healing also offers free trainings in high schools and on college campuses regarding healthy relationships and digital dating abuse (using technology to control/intimidate/stalk).  View the full list of teen training topics here. To request teen training sessions, please fill out the online training request form.

Please consider sharing this article on your social media pages and use hashtags #teendvmonth and #loveisrespect to help raise awareness and start a conversation.