Growing up, I was an avid reader. But none of the books I read in my childhood reflected my environment and daily challenges. There were no stories about the people I encountered—the ones who dealt with poverty and discrimination or were involved in social justice issues and community projects.
My family and community's obstacles weren’t reflected in contemporary literature. It wasn’t until college that I discovered novels written by Latinos or Latinas that mirrored these experiences.
As a writer, I wanted to reveal these experiences and exemplify important issues often overlooked regarding young people and those of color.
Each year, around 12 percent of American high schoolers experience emotional, physical, or sexual violence at the hands of someone they date. Young women, transgender teens, and gender-nonconforming youth are disproportionately affected.
It's essential to recognize that IPV affects young people of color at a disproportionate rate. According to studies, Latinas and Black women experience IPV at a rate much higher than White women, and Native American women are twice as likely to experience IPV than any other group.
The statistics are alarming. Experiences of physical or sexual violence in childhood are reported by 60-70% of incarcerated women or girls. Many of the perpetrators are people familiar to the victim.
In my novel, The Garden of Second Chances, I sought to amplify the voices of young women in prison and the often ignored issue of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).
My main character, Juana Maria, is a seventeen-year-old mother from Mexico who lives in the U.S. with the father of her child. She experiences the terror of IPV firsthand. Her boyfriend's abusive behavior escalates until she feels she has no choice but to run away with her baby during the abuse. Tragically, this results in his death, and she is convicted of manslaughter.
In prison, Juana Maria learns her situation is all too common among young women. Many have experienced IPV but are hesitant to talk about it, unsure whether their experiences constitute abuse.
Unique challenges can contribute to the lack of reporting the abuse: economic instability, fear of the police, fear of deportation, the lack of access to resources, cultural or religious views, and family or peer pressure.
IPV is a power-based behavior that uses control and manipulation to maintain relationships. It can take many forms, from physical violence to emotional abuse, and it doesn't always happen in person. Cyberstalking and the non-consensual distribution of intimate images are also forms of IPV. These behaviors can occur while dating a partner, but various forms of manipulation by the perpetrator may mask the red flags.
One of the biggest challenges with IPV is that people often suffer in silence. They may not realize the experience is abuse, or they may be afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation, or others won’t believe them. This can lead to long-term effects: PTSD, depression, and substance abuse.
In my novel, I explore these factors to highlight the obstacles to reporting IPV and clarify why many young women don’t report abuse.
As writers, we must tackle tough subjects head-on and raise awareness. We need to give voice to those who have been silenced or don’t know where to access resources.
If you write young adult fiction, consider exploring topics about the harsher side of life. Your story could make a difference in the lives of young people who desperately need to understand that they are not alone.
Mona Alvarado Frazier is fulfilling her passion for writing after decades of working with incarcerated youth and raising three kids as a single parent. When she’s not penning a story, she’s traveling, reading, watching K-dramas, or tending her succulent gardens and two grand kitties. She is a member of SCBWI, Macondo Writers, and a co-founder of LatinxPitch, a Twitter event. Mona’s second book, a historical fiction, is scheduled for December 2024. You can visit her website for more information.