Savage Spawn

Reflections on Violent Children

De: Jonathan Kellerman

Narrado por: Richard Gilliland

As tragedies in Oregon, Arkansas, and Colorado have shown, children as young as eight years old are capable of murder and violence. Experts ranging from law enforcement officials to guidance counselors are confused and conflicted about how to approach this tragic phenomenon. Best-selling novelist Jonathan Kellerman returns to his roots as a scientist and child psychologist to dissect a problem that is attacking our society: dangerous children who, in all likelihood, will grow up to be dangerous adults. Kellerman explores the "nature v. nurture" theory, discusses the legal and psychological ramifications of treating such children as adult criminals, and tackles the assertion that violence in the media is to blame. More than a crash course in understanding the "hows" and "whys" of this issue, Savage Spawn is an enlightening study that will engender much-needed discussion.

©1999 Jonathan Kellerman (P)1999 Phoenix Books, Inc.

Food for Thought

I read this while driving through a rain storm. Not sure which kept me awake more, the rain or the book. Whichever; this book is certainly thought provoking and will be the subject of many discussions to come.

It is okay - not great but not bad

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I might - not a particularly academic, but not bad. If from a non psych background might be okay. Fairly pessimistic view of offenders and not really focused on children as much as psychopaths generally. Not really a reflection on violent children.

Would you recommend Savage Spawn to your friends? Why or why not?

As above

Did Richard Gilliland do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Not really applicable

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Not really applicable

meh

He goes from extreme to extreme. His proposed solution is not only not workable, it comes very close to overzealous state intervention. There are already child abuse laws into place. To add in these other factors which may or may not create a sociopath is ripe for abuse. We need to improve the child abuse systems we already have in place. Plus, his stance on things being hopeless after around the age of ten or younger is way too extreme and not supported enough to just throw away people like trash. His zero tolerance for youthful murderers is way too draconian--there may be some who can be reformed.

Also if that one boy "Tim" scared him so much, why can't he remember the name? Why doesn't he now go through his records to try to find it and see what happened to the child? Why didn't he alert domestic abuse authorities. There was an indication that "Tim" might be abusing grandma.