A review of Lost lives: The pandemic violence against children Helander, E. (2011).

Abstract

The book, Lost Lives: The Pandemic Violence Against Children by Einar A. Helander, makes use of international research evidence, historical and contemporary anecdotes, and policy statements in order to provide a summary of child abuse and neglect around the world. Lost Lives is presented in a systematic manner with well-organized chapter divisions. Information is disseminated in an easy-to-follow format, and is well-cited with concise summaries. The author provides useful comparisons between countries and addresses the multi-factorial nature of childhood maltreatment. The reviewers summarize the book’s sections: (1) The evidence of the pandemic child abuse, (2) evidence of the pandemic child neglect and deprivation, (3) then and now [historical context], (4) causes and contributions to violent behaviour and its prevention, and (5) challenges. In conclusion, barring a few minor suggestions, this book is an excellent introduction to the challenging topic of childhood neglect and violence.