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Suicide is among the ten major causes of death in children 6 to 12 years of age. Even though pediatricians may be asked to care for preadolescent children who are either contemplating suicide or who have actually attempted suicide, there has been a dearth of professional literature directed toward this complex problem. This new book is an excellent "comprehensive overview of current knowledge about suicidal behavior in this age group" and provides accurate, upto-date information in a balanced and critical fashion. The data are both empirical and clinical and are interspersed so that the reader does not lose interest. There are excellent graphics that orient the reader to broad concepts. The summary at the end of each chapter is extremely helpful.
Since there are so many fine features of this book, the remainder of this review will emphasize those sections that are of particular interest to pediatricians. The book is