Analysis Of Janice Erlbaum's Book Have You Found Her

There will always be someone you meet in your life who’s life is much harder and less privileged than yours, just like there will always be someone who’s life is much better than yours. The best thing you can do, is try to be kind and help those who do not have the resources you may have. In Janice Erlbaum’s book, Have You Found Her, she convinces us that by using our resources, experiences, and privileges, we can make a large impact in others’, less fortunate, lives.

In Have You Found Her, Janice begins volunteering at the old homeless shelter she lived in when she was only fifteen years old. Nearly twenty years later, Janice returns to make an impact on lives of young, troubled teens just like her. Beginning by using resources she had at home, she started to bring an outlet to these girls through the art of creating

Sam had been living on the streets since she was twelve years old; she came from a junkie, abusive family who used her to get money and drugs. During one of Janice’s bead sessions, Sam notices Janice’s notebook sticking out of her bag, Sam then shows Janice one of the poems she had written. “The last two lines: Let me live how I want to live; Let me die when I want to die. My eyes filled with tears… ‘This is great,’ I said passing it back to her.” (Erlbaum 27) Janice becomes inspired by this girl and her intelligence, and begins wanting to learn more about her and help her in any way she can. Janice purchases a notebook and pens for Sam to put her writings in, and writes a note on the inside detailing how special and talented she is. “‘Wow for me?’ She waited until I nodded to take the notebook, holding it carefully as she read the inscription. ‘Wow. Wow, this is so nice of you. Thanks.’” (Erlbaum 32) This demonstrates how a small act of kindness made an impact on this girl’s life and gave her something she would not have been able to get herself, which also gave her