What are you staring at?: A Comic About Restorative Justice in Schools

Designed for use in schools, this comic teaches children about restorative justice through the story of Jake and Ryan. After a misunderstanding between Jake and Ryan leads to a fight in the playground, both boys are left feeling angry and fearful about what might happen when they see each other again. Rather than keeping Jake and Ryan apart, their teacher arranges a restorative meeting to allow the boys to understand the situation from the other's perspective and transform their negative emotions into positive ones. This comic is a key resource in helping children aged 8-13 to understand restorative justice and prepare for a restorative meeting. The comic also features a resource section for teachers, explaining more about restorative practices and how they can be used in schools to foster respect and emotional literacy among students.

About the Author :
Pete Wallis is the Senior Practitioner in Restorative Justice for Oxfordshire Youth Justice Service UK and a founding member of the charity SAFE! Support for young people affected by crime. He has written and co-written several books on restorative justice and related topics for JKP. Joseph Wilkins is a freelance illustrator and designer based in Oxford. He graduated from Falmouth College of Arts in 2006. His website can be found at www.josephwilkins.co.uk.

Review :
Restorative practitioners know there is always a story behind the story, often several. This delightful comic book is a wonderful narrative about how stories come together and, with the right process, can bring healing. Its focus on feelings and thoughts and how these lead to decisions and misunderstandings will give children permission to talk about the sorts of things that have a huge influence on our behaviour. It will be a worthy addition to resources aimed at primary school students and a useful platform to explain restorative problem-solving to young people. I can't wait to have my own copy to show to schools and parents. Punishment does not help to get to the bottom of why conflicts start in the first place, nor does it help to put things right between those in conflict. Here is a book that shows a different way - and it does so using a realistic story, beautifully illustrated. Ryan and Jake thought there was no way out of the situation they found themselves in - until a kind adult offered a listening ear and a set of really useful conflict resolution skills. The approach she used is based on something called 'restorative justice'. Check it out - it's not hard to learn and you could help your friends, and your teachers, to handle conflicts more effectively. The scenario and reactions were very realistic. I personally can't wait to use it with at least two of my boys! I really enjoyed reading this comic. I found it moving, and think that parents and adults will get as much out of it as children. This is a really lovely comic. Blessed be the peacemakers. The comic is brilliant for my students, we could do a whole lesson plan on it. Many of our children come to school in a negative state and could understand how Jake feels when he is seen crying. It creates a good solid base for getting them to think of their personal situations. '‎If you've not been trained in restorative practices but think it's something you'd like to know more about and try with your students then read this book. If you already use restorative practices in your school or youth setting and want to explain what's going to happen with children or parents then I strongly recommend you have some copies to hand. Restorative practices that seek to repair relationships are an important tool when it comes to permanent resolution of bullying incidents. This book will give you the confidence you need to try it.'