A child described his time during the 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquakes as “sailing on a river of emotions.” In Carol Mutch’s latest book, she weaves her many years of research expertise with the experiences of children and young people making sense of disaster. Beginning with the Canterbury earthquakes and traversing disasters in the Asia–Pacific region before returning to the Covid years in New Zealand, River of Emotions provides fresh and unique insights into disasters through the eyes of the younger generation.
Two strands run through the book. The first is of interest to parents, schools and youth organisations or anyone who wants to engage with how children and young people experience, describe, and understand their world when the unimaginable happens. While the examples in this book remind readers of children and young people’s vulnerability in a disaster situation, they also enable us to see beyond the stories of loss and sadness to ones of courage, compassion, creativity— and even humour. River of Emotions concludes with what we can learn about and from children and young people in disasters and offers advice for adults who care for them in traumatic situations.
The second strand will appeal to researchers and research students as it details the process of researching in disaster zones, from inception to implementation and dissemination. In particular, River of Emotions offers an insight into how to make sense of what children and young people say, do, write, and draw when they are expressing their emotions. By describing different research approaches, data gathering strategies, and sense-making frameworks, the book opens up a wide range of possibilities for others wishing to conduct research with children and young people in both ordinary and extra-ordinary times.
Carol Mutch is a professor in the Faculty of Arts and Education at the University of Auckland. Originally from the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, she has been a teacher, educational leader, policy advisor, academic, and researcher. Carol has published six books and multiple academic articles on aspects of education and research. She is the recipient of awards for her teaching, service, and research, including a research excellence medal for her research on the role of schools in disaster response and recovery.