You think I’m Evil - David Taransaud

BEST FOR … arts-based ways to reach alienated youth whose natural self has become buried

Now regarded as one of the most influential works on how to approach extremely challenging, often violent behaviour of young people in and out of school. David explains that the most challenging children essentially all possess two ‘selves’ - the omnipotent self and the wounded self . The book explains that the world outside the child sees only the omnipotent self, and the wounded self remains hidden from view. The author skilfully shows how, through the use of the various art forms that appeal to these children such as film, dance, rap, superheroes and storytelling, a teacher or other appropriate professional can come alongside the young person’s omnipotent self and start to access the wounded self . Over time the wounded self is integrated and the young person can develop more holistically. The author worked for 10 years in a special needs school in the UK, and also with child soldiers in Africa and radicalised youths in Pakistan.