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When Kids Kill: Unthinkable Crimes of Lost Innocence (Virgin True Crime) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jonathan Paul (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 10 April 2003 | Series: Virgin True Crime

Jonathan Paul goes behind the sensationalist headlines of 'child killers' to investigate why these crimes happen. He 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.

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When Kids Kill: Unthinkable Crimes of Lost Innocence (Virgin True Crime) + Children Who Kill: Profiles of Pre-teen and Teenage Killers
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Product details

  • Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Virgin Books (10 April 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0753507587
  • ISBN-13: 978-0753507582
  • Product Dimensions: 1.9 x 10.8 x 18.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 51,925 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Book Description

SHOCKING CRIMES OF LOST INNOCENCE - WHEN AND WHY DO CHILDREN BECOME MURDERERS

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.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
86 of 89 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Serious research, serious insight 1 Feb 2005
By Taylor
Format:Mass Market Paperback
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.
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33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, balanced account 2 Feb 2009
By Stracs TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Mass Market Paperback
In "When Kids Kill" Jonathan Paul has produced, despite the rather salacious sounding title, a fascinating, balanced and worthwile account of when children become killers. He has researched the issue thoroughly, including speaking to an emminent psychologist in the field, and introduces the book with a chapter on the psychology of child killers. He then goes through some of the more noted cases e.g. Mary Bell, Graham Young, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, plus the killing of Damilola Taylor, devoting a chapter to each case.

The account, whilst detailed, is not over-gratutious, but focuses on what motivates such children, particularly the background of these kids. Whilst some may see this account as being too liberal and sympathetic to such killers, I would argue that it is impeccably balanced. The author's view is that society needs to understand these young killers, not just brand them as born evil, if we are to prevent such cases. However, he also maintains due respect for the suffering of the victims and their families.

I would highly recommend this account to anyone with an interest in true crime and criminal psychology. It is particularly good as an introduction to these more famous cases, and further reading can be undertaken if the reader is interested in a more thorough account.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars The Debate will Run and Run...Nature or Nurture? 26 July 2011
By mumsy50
Format:Mass Market Paperback
A very interesting and well written book. Some of the cases are very sad, especially the Jamie Bulger and Mary Bell cases. If you work in this field, as I do, you come across this kind of behaviour regularly. Though not very often to the extent of murder. I find in my work with most children who offend that once you start to look into their homelife you will find neglect, cruelty, harshness and abuse, time and time again. It's a thread that runs through most of these cases, though not all. It will go on and on as there are thousands and thousands of children living a nightmare life and some of them will eventually snap!

If you have an interest in why some children kill others, read this book. It may help you understand why some children and young people offend.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Can't put it down!
Well put together and researched. True stories of children who are bad to the core! Gripping but upsetting at the same time!
Published 21 days ago by Emma
2.0 out of 5 stars Could do with a complete re-edit
It's difficult to know how to review a book that has so clearly borrowed work from so many others. On one hand, the author has those people to thank for their own research and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Holly Golightly
4.0 out of 5 stars Ignore the trashy title, this is an interesting and well written book.
I agree with others on here who have said that the salacious title does this book no justice. It is well a really well written and researched book that made me question my own... Read more
Published 3 months ago by RL
2.0 out of 5 stars Passable
An uninspiring book. The mary bell chapter was particularly disappointing. It appeared to rely on Gita sereny's 'flawed' analysis. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Spoonfinger
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking
This book was heart breaking to, it to was well written and the thruth is out there, i'm just sorry that this happened.
Published 3 months ago by donna li
5.0 out of 5 stars 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
v.good 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Published 3 months ago by foleygee
5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant
brilliant book great price very fast delivery, made a brilliant presant. would recomment to any one who is interested in these kind of head lines.
Published 4 months ago by pudrudd
5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant
well written gripping book. I couldn't put the book down even though at times I wanted to and was close to tears with some of the accounts written about. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mancie
1.0 out of 5 stars What an awful book.
This book is incredibly badly written and researched. The stories are just a rehash of other people's work. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Vix
5.0 out of 5 stars When Kids Kill
The writer has done a fantastic job in giving the facts and remaining objective. He has not branded any of the people he has written about and has obviously done his research, I am... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Vstar
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