Lives on the Boundary: A Moving Account of the Struggles and Achievements of America's Educationally Underprepared

Remedial, illiterate, intellectually deficient—these are the stigmas that define America’s educationally underprepared. Having grown up poor and been labeled this way, nationally acclaimed educator and author Mike Rose takes us into classrooms and communities to reveal what really lies behind the labels and test scores. With rich detail, Rose demonstrates innovative methods to initiate problem” students into the world of language, literature, and written expression. This book challenges educators, policymakers, and parents to re-examine their assumptions about the capacities of a wide range of students. Already a classic, Lives on the Boundaryoffers a truly democratic vision, one that should be heeded by anyone concerned with America’s future.

Mike Rose teaches at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. His books include Possible Lives and The Mind at Work. He is the winner of a number of awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship.