Dibs In Search of Self Review
August 2014

This book is written from a therapist’s point of view of one of her unique cases. A five year old boy named, Dibs, who because of her he began to come alive. Dibs is a young boy, who is mute, withdrawn and because of this is always locked away in his room. His parents are brilliant, intelligent and lost as to why their child is this way. He never looked at anyone, barely moved and would act as if he was useless. Dibs loved books and would look at book after book. This was the only time he seemed attentive and interested. Had it not been for his behavior in class he would have never met the therapist who would change his life forever. His parents did not believe that he needed help, or they did not really want to accept the help. The school is the reason why a therapist was called in to observe him. Dibs was an emotionally abused child. He was starved and deprived of attention and never really given the chance to thrive and grow. His parents were ashamed and embarrassed of him and chose not to deal with him. I would say that I would be the same way if I was living under those circumstances. Children and people in general need to feel love, feel they are wanted and needed and he did not feel or receive any of that from his family. On page 14, when Dibs was crying and shouting that he did not want to go home. I am not sure why the teachers did not look further into it. I would have found that alarming and started investigating and keeping an eye on how he interacted with his mother. I believe that he took to his therapist, Miss A, who he refers to as “his special friend”, who after hearing of him, was eager to meet him (pg.20) allowed him to be him. She let him explore and come to terms and understanding to things. She allowed him time to play and come to her when he was ready. She unlike the pediatrician; “Who knows?