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 behaviors. 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.