Product Description

Jonathan Paul goes behind the sensationalist headlines of 'child killers' to investigate why these crimes happen examines child homicide in today's violent, confusing world and contextualises it against the cruel unforgiving retribution of yesterday. Children are increasingly experimenting with drugs and committing offences, but there are those who commit the worst possible crimes: to end another person's life before their own could properly have begun. The cases are shocking but sometimes the path towards them is even more so. This is a fascinating exploration of disturbing events aimed at discovering what happens when childhood is trodden underfoot, and when and why kids kill.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10546 in Books
• Published on: 2006-12-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 272 pages

From the Back Cover
There isn't this creature called a "child killer"; he does not exist. It's a whole range of circumstances and disorders.' - Dr Susan Bailey, consultant adolescent forensic psychiatrist.
Kids. They know about sex, they are experimenting with drugs and, increasingly, they are committing offences and finding themselves in court. But beyond the general troublemaking and ASBO's there are kids who commit the worst possible crime: murder.
Cases of child homocide are rare, but they are especially horrific and they have a profound effect on all society. Can children be inherently evil? Is evil learned, and if so, from where? Jonathon Paul goes beyond the sensationalist headlines to investigate why these crimes happen examining homicide in today's violent, confusing world and putting it in context against the cruel retribution of yesterday. The cases are shocking, but sometimes the path towards them is even more so. This is what happens when childhood is trodden underfoot: this is when - and why - kids kill.

About the Author
Jonathan Paul is an investigative journalist and author.

Customer Reviews

Serious research, serious insight
Despite the gaudy title this is not a sensationalist work. On the contrary, the author has taken one of the most emotive subjects on earth, researched it thoroughly and written a work of real psychological insight without ever raising his authorial voice. A must-read for anyone with a serious interest in criminal psychology, this book helps us to understand that demonizing children is not merely unethical but utterly unhelpful, and also raises the question of whether the adult should be punished for the crimes of the child. Excellent throughout.

Edge of the seat stuff
Actually, having read quite a few of these types of books I was expecting a bit of exaggeration, however it was well written and chillingly disturbing in it's honesty. It leaves you questioning the so-called 'born evil' and wondering just how much we are responsbile for these 'child killers.' Definitly recommended.

An eye opener.
If you can get past the out of control crowds, all screaming for `them to be locked up and the key thrown away` - there is, in every case, a heart rending story to be told. Whether or not you`re prepared to take the time to listen to it is up to you - but i would highly recommend this book either way.