Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in America

by Jonathan Kozol

Book Overview

WINNER OF THE ROBERT F. KENNEDY BOOK AWARD - "A searing trip into the heart of homelessness" (Chicago Sun-Times) that jolted the American conscience

"Jonathan's struggle is noble. What he says must be heard. His outcry must shake our nation out of its guilty indifference."--Elie Wiesel

Jonathan Kozol is one of America's most forceful and eloquent observers of the intersection of race, poverty, and education...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307345890
• ISBN13: 9780307345899
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Kozol Misunderstood

I have been reading several reviews of books by Jonathan Kozol and I am disappointed. For starters, everyone seems to be blaming minority mothers for their "out of control baby making." I think the point of his books have been missed. Kozol is always looking at how societal ills effect children. He is not apologizing for families that are larger than can be afforded - he is sympathizing with the children that are born to them. He is sympathizing (better word empathizing) with the children who attend horrible run down schools and like in welfare hotels. As a public school teacher in Chicago, his revelations are very real. We do teach in terrible buildings. We do have homeless children. Would I ever think to point the blame at them? Am I pleased with the choices their parents have made? Not always, but I am also not the one to judge -- I am there to teach their children.As for all of the people who suggest all "these people" need to do is get up off their couches and get a job: I would like to know if you would be willing to hire these people with substandard educations and possibly no permanent residence. Middle and upper class America is quick to condem those without work, but also the last group of people to provide employment to those in most need. Before condeming the people in these situations, I firmly believe we all need to take a hard look at ourselves.

This book was excellent and it touched close to home

Kozol presents the truth. As a child I lived under the same conditions. The whole family was even sent to another town by the state. It is to bad that history keeps repeating itself. Parents do have to take responsibility BUT society plays a big role.

a chilling expose

Upon reading the first few pages of this book, I was hooked. It accounts, in startling detail, the almost systematic way that society has psychologically, racially, and socially disappointed our nations youth. Kozol also does a good job of noting the hypocracy that exists, not only in the American culture, but with the affluent rich as well. I felt that this book touched close to home, because I attended a high school similar to the ones described. I would recommend this book to any educator or student.

What Reganomics did to many urban families

A very intelligent and moving account of families dealing with homelessness. This book tells it like it is for American cities and the children that inhabit them.

One of my favorite all-time books.

If there is a "10", this is it! I put this book down to tearfully go to my kitchen and feel privileged to be able to cook dinner for my own children. There, but for the grace of God, go we all. A timeless account of homelessness and the families it visits.