Sarah's Waterfall by Ellery Akers

or order from Safer Society Press at
(802) 247-3132
illustration: Angelique Benicio

Sarah’s Waterfall: A Healing Story About Sexual Abuse

Sarah’s Waterfall from Safer Society Press won a 2010 Mom's Choice Award (Gold) in the Juvenile Books Self-Improvement Category, a 2010 NAPPA Award in the Parenting Resources category, and a 2009 Skipping Stones Award in the Teaching and Parenting Resources Category.

Sarah’s Waterfall is a groundbreaking novel that provides hope and healing for pre-teen survivors. This comforting story of recovery starts when 11-year-old Sarah, an abuse survivor, comes to live with her beloved grandmother. The story unfolds in journal entries, at the start of the school year, as Sarah joins a girl’s survivor group led by the school psychologist. This illustrated narrative contains the latest healing exercises developed by psychologists Peter A. Levine and Julie Henderson and family and child therapist Maggie Kline. Though a work of fiction, Sarah’s Waterfall was written by a survivor for survivors as a healing tool to help girls and women become more empowered.

“This look at the feelings of an abused child through that child's eyes can let other victims know that they are not alone, and offer comfort and grounding for them. The exercises that Sarah uses in the book have been developed by professionals in the field of child psychology for the treatment of abuse victims.

The illustrations are marvelous, inspiring paintings that show Sarah's story through a child's perspective. This book should be in the hands of every professional therapist who works with abused children and in every school and library. It's a specialized tool with a specific audience in mind, though it could be read by, or to, any child to lay a foundation for prevention of sexual abuse.”

— Review on myShelf.com

“An exceptionally gentle, sensitive tool to aid in the healing process, with lovely illustrations.”

University of Michigan Health System

Sarah's Waterfall is as refreshing as nature itself. As a trauma therapist of sexually abused children, I was delighted that Ms. Akers truly took the somatic reins of telling a story that balances the hard work of healing with the resources of comfort, pleasure, grounding and safety as felt in the body. I can't wait to share this with the kids in my practice.”

— Maggie Kline, co-author with Peter Levine of Trauma Through a Child’s Eyes, North Atlantic, 2007

Sarah’s Waterfall is a wonderfully sensitive, honest, and poignant depiction of a child’s journey toward healing from the devastating impact of sexual abuse. It is a beautifully written, thoroughly readable story… A powerful, original and important resource…”

— Tammy L. Leombruno, M.A., LCMHC
The New England Counseling and Trauma Center

Sarah’s Waterfall is wonderful. It has a very soothing quality and covers many important issues in a very sophisticated, intelligent way… will help children because it normalizes the issue of sexual abuse and gives kids healthy strategies for coping.”

— Sherri Patterson, M.F.T., founder and director of California’s Touch Safety Program

Sarah’s Waterfall is now available from Amazon or order from Safer Society Press at (802) 247-3132.