S. Gale Bleth's A.W.A.R.E.: A Personal Safety Playbook for Leaving the Nest is an essential guide for young people transitioning from home to college. As the title's acronym stands for "Alert," "Watch," "Assess," "Respond," and "Escape," each section of the book explores the difficulties inherent in this new independence—from theft and assault to sexual violence. It explores the dangers of isolation in particular, as well as the need for self-protection through the power of groups and asking for support. Bleth guides readers into staying aware and scanning for danger, offering simple and easy tips to understand. Just as significantly, she writes about trusting intuition and staying safe online.
Tips for young readers are helpful and easy to understand: "Lock your car doors both when you leave it parked and when you return to it. Make sure that your key fob only unlocks your driver’s side door and not the other doors.” Most importantly, as many examples focus on young women, this book emphasizes group support over isolation and encourages women to live freely but safely. There is an excellent link to a basic understanding of human rights in the example of making tea for a friend, along with clear information on what sexual consent actually means and how to respond to witnessing an attack.
A.W.A.R.E. makes an excellent read for young people who desire freedom but need awareness on how to navigate social spaces safely. However, while the book effectively explains the consequences of dangers, it could have been beneficial to discuss how to respond if friends were to experience crime or violence. Trauma and secondary trauma unsettle communities and young students, with groups often withdrawing from social life. This book focuses on the prevention of trauma, rather than recovery.
Nevertheless, with each section exploring different areas of illegal activity—including places in the city and around campus that invite danger—and how to understand trauma in the actual moment, A.W.A.R.E. offers a great overview of how to protect against crime while still maintaining a sense of social freedom. This information is valuable to all young people excited to leave home and freely explore the world without becoming a crime survivor.
Written by S. Gale Bleth, A.W.A.R.E.: A Personal Safety Playbook for Leaving the Nest is an indispensable, practical, and clearly written guide for young people navigating the shift to independent living. By balancing cautionary advice with the empowerment of group solidarity, Bleth provides a roadmap for staying safe without sacrificing the joy of college life.
~ Nicci Attfield for IndieReader