If you a raising a child who has experienced trauma, you have probably asked yourself questions like these: Why does he keep doing that even though he knows he’ll get into trouble? Why can’t she just control her behavior? And others who have witnessed your child’s behavior might have wondered or even asked aloud, “What’s wrong with that child?”

This book answers those questions. While many books cover the effects of trauma on the brain—often in a very dry, intellectual way—this book is unique because of its conversational style and stories. It is written as an interview between Oprah Winfrey and renowned expert on trauma, Dr. Bruce Perry. Oprah shares deeply personal stories of trauma from her own life, as well as stories from her many interviews on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Through the conversations between Ms. Winfrey and Dr. Perry, readers are shown in specific ways how trauma truly affects the brain. Readers are also gently led to a mindset shift that changes the question of What’s wrong with you? to What happened to you? This is a crucial mindset for parents and others who are caring for children from hard places.

The printed book is great, with Oprah’s words in blue and Dr. Perry’s words in black. It also has helpful diagrams from Dr. Perry. But I liked the audiobook even better. Recorded by the authors themselves, it is an interesting and comfortable way to listen to and remember very important and powerful information.

While the book doesn’t really spend a lot of time on what to do to help children heal from traumatic experiences, the first step in this process is to understand how trauma may have affected their brains—as well as the brains of their parents, if they too have trauma in their backgrounds. In that area, the authors have done a remarkable job. If other books on trauma’s effects on the brain have just seemed too dry and boring to read, try reading What Happened to You? I don’t think you will be disappointed.

- Jane Mose