I believe many of the comments made in the review are unsubstantiated and indeed inaccurate. The inaccurate quote made at the end of the review, 'the short section that claims to describe "definite signs and symptoms of each form of abuse",' devalues this review. The section of the book that is being referred to actually states, 'there are definite behaviour signs and symptoms of each form of abuse' (p.96). The omission of the word 'behaviour' changes the meaning completely.
The book does not aim to explain relevant theory and offer practical advice. It was written to encourage the reader to think about what we understand by the term 'behaviour' and to consider situations and behaviours that may cause concern.
I ask readers to look at the book for themselves, be open-minded but, above all, think about the issues it raises. You do not have to agree with Jennie Lindon or me!
Sheila Riddall-Leech, author, Managing Children's Behaviour Jennie Lindon responds:
I understood the avowed aim of this book from the back cover and the introduction. I apologise for losing the word 'behaviour'. It is the word 'definite' that underpins my unease with this section about abuse. My concerns are associated with specific sections of the book and I have checked alternative sources of information. It would have been unprofessional to express my opinions otherwise. Yes, readers are the final judge of whether they find a book helpful.
