Rachel and Her Children

The story that jolted the conscience of the nation when it first appeared inThe New Yorker Jonathan Kozol is one of America's most forceful and eloquent observers of the intersection of race, poverty, and education. His books, from the National Book AwardwinningDeath at an Early Ageto his most recent, the critically acclaimedShame of the Nation, are touchstones of the national conscience. First published in 1988 and based on the months the author spent among America's homeless,Rachel and Her Childrenis an unforgettable record of the desperate voices of men, women, and especially children caught up in a nightmarish situation that tears at the hearts of readers. With record numbers of homeless children and adults flooding the nation's shelters,Rachel and Her Childrenoffers a look at homelessness that resonates even louder today.

Jonathan Kozol is the National Book Award–winning author of Death at an Early Age, Savage Inequalities, Amazing Grace, and The Shame of the Nation. He has been working with children in inner-city schools for more than 40 years.