A local author has partnered with Valley Children’s Hospital to support children with epilepsy and foster understanding of the condition.

“Room for Friends: A Story to Empower Kids with Epilepsy,” by Fresno author Susie Harder, allows readers to become the main character as they navigate an escape room-themed adventure.

The book also contains personalized sections where readers can share their own words and experiences in the storyline.

“I really wanted kids to have a way to confidently share something that’s hard to talk about,” Harder told GV Wire. “Asking a child to explain epilepsy in front of their class is often met with a quick ‘no thanks.’ But when we create a supportive framework — a kind of presentation kit — they’re suddenly empowered. They can teach their classmates about epilepsy, and having a way to be truly understood is one of the most meaningful gifts we can give a child.”

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Harder Worked With Kids, Clinicians to Write Book

Harder partnered with the hospital to write the book. She connected with clinicians, program managers, and patients to better understand epilepsy, said Zara Arboleda, spokesperson for Valley Children’s.

Harder said she spent more than a year developing the book. Clues and puzzles in the book come from what kids with epilepsy told Harder they wanted other students to understand.

The hospital is looking to do more books on other diagnoses in the future, Arboleda said.

A licensed speech-language pathologist, Harder founded Authorable, an afterschool club to promote writing for children. She runs the Central Valley Stuttering Center.

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“This book is designed to spark safe, open conversations with these kids’ classmates about epilepsy — reducing stigma and encouraging empathy,” said Caitlin Bernard-Vincent, Valley Children’s epilepsy program manager. “They want others to understand them, so they don’t feel so alone but often don’t know what to say or how to say it, especially when it comes to their peers.”