Shattered Lives

Shattered Lives offers a moving insight into the troubled lives of children who have experienced abuse and neglect, and highlights the effects of early traumatic episodes.Each chapter tells the story of a child's particular trauma – whether sexual abuse, parental drug abuse, or loss – and illustrates the feelings of shame, rejection, and worthlessness that have resulted from their negative experiences. The author offers valuable advice for those wanting to better understand and communicate with these hard-to-reach children and warns against the stigmatization of children who present problem behaviours. In a critique of existing structures, she exposes the plight of children who are overlooked by the authorities and denounces those who value bureaucracy over the welfare of individual children. Drawing on more than 20 years' experience of working with children, Batmanghelidjh brings together a wealth of insights into how to help children to regain control and minimize the ramifications of their abuse upon future development.This accessible, affecting text will be an eye-opening read for anyone with an interest in children's welfare, from the general reader to counsellors, therapists and social workers.Praise for the book:‘Camila's work with children who have suffered abuse, trauma and emotional deprivation is outstanding. To hear her reflect on their experience is always to have mind and heart expanded, and it is wonderful that we now have such reflection available in this book for a wider public – so that the urgency of what she is talking about just might at last make an impact on the public and on government.' – Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury‘Shattered Lives is a much needed and timely book. No one understands or has done more with socially excluded children in Britain than Camila Batmanghelidjh. She responds to them with respect and understanding and has broken through where so many others have failed. In an age of widening disparities between rich and poor, this is a book of hope. It is also a call for action from so many more of us to expand and support the opportunities that Camila and Kids Company have forged. They need to be replicated across Britain if we are to avoid creating an entire generation of excluded and destroyed young people.' – Jon Snow, journalist and broadcaster‘Camila Batmanghelidjh is a remarkable woman, a child who grew up to fight for children and childhood. This is a truly remarkable book. We must all ensure that it becomes life changing. Politicians should read it with a view to examining why and how we let children fall between the cracks of societal aspiration, legislation and protection, to be damaged and then do damage to others. Public servants should read it to remember why they exist. As parents we should read it and then love and understand our children a little better in the future. Read it and weep. Read it and resolve that we must do better. If it was hard to write and at times hard to read, imagine what it was to live.' – Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty (the National Council for Civil Liberties)‘I can't remember ever having been so affected by a book about the country I live in. Each child you write about tells me something new about the kids I see on the street.' – Danny Kruger, Chief Leader Writer, The Daily Telegraph‘It's so clear, it hurts.' – Ruby Wax