Here Be Dragons by Melanie Shankle should be mandatory reading for all parents. This book is spectacular on every level. I saw myself and my family on almost every page of this marvelous book. Generational trauma is something I have been struggling with and battling against since I became an adult. I like how Here Be Dragons is set-up. Readers begin with very honest and raw stories of Shankle’s tumultuous childhood told from the author’s perspective as a child. I especially appreciate Shankle’s sentiment that she struggled with her mother as a child, BUT she had no idea her childhood was different from anyone else’s. When we are children we think what we are facing in the moment is what everyone is facing. When I was a kid, sure, I hated a lot of what I was put through, but I genuinely had no idea my experiences were out of the norm. That realization came later when I met the man who would become my husband. I would tell him stories and his eyes would get bug-eyed big and he would start to tear up…that’s when I realized I grew up differently than the average kid and needed to work on some things that had been issues in my family for decades and decades. After the candid kid stories, Shankle moves into her teen and college years. Continuing with her honest storytelling, Shankle moves into those moments as young adults when we see clearly the issues, but we’re at a loss for how to proceed forward in a healthy way without causing undue hurt towards our families. We’re all born with an innate need to love our parents, but if they’re hurting us what is the correct move to make to heal from those wounds? Do we cut our parents off? Do we hold them at arm’s length? Is setting boundaries enough? I love that Shankle tells the reader the choice she made but states very clearly that everyone’s choice in this kind of situation is one of a kind. We can take solace from Shankle’s journey, but her journey and choices may be vastly different than what we choose for ourselves. And that is OK as long we are turning to God for the answers. After her young adulthood trials, Shankle moves into motherhood. This is where the real gems of the text take place. I, too, related to wanting a different life for my daughter. I wanted desperately to break the generational traumas and issues and cycles, and give my daughter a different, better path. This is where God comes in to play BIG TIME. I absolutely loved every single page in this book after Melanie’s daughter, Caroline, is born. Shankle’s clear reliance on God is my favorite aspect of this book, and the main point. We cannot break the shackles that tie us down, that keep us repeating horrible family cycles, unless God is our very center. Amen to that!

Here Be Dragons is a superior parenting text that I highly recommend. This single review cannot do this book justice. I adored Shankle’s sense of humor, honesty, vulnerability, and truth-telling. I also truly love that she goes back to God over and over again as the source of her true healing. Such an excellent reminder for us all. If you’re a mom or dad entering the teen years with your children, Here Be Dragons is absolutely the book you need to read. If you are a survivor of generational traumas and/or mean girls, you will also love this book. It will speak to your soul and will make you feel seen. Truly, I cannot say enough good things about this book. Purchase a copy asap. You will not be disappointed you did!