Plot Summary

Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in America

Jonathan Kozol
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Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in America

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1988

Book Brief

Jonathan Kozol

Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in America

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1988
Book Details
Pages

303

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

New York City • 1980s

Publication Year

1988

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in America by Jonathan Kozol provides an intimate look into the daily lives of homeless families in America, shedding light on the failures of bureaucracy and the dire consequences of insufficient affordable housing. Kozol illustrates the relentless cycle of temporary housing, policy-induced hardships, and the severe psychological toll on individuals, especially children, documenting the struggles of families in places like New York City's shelter system. Throughout the book, there are depictions of unsafe living conditions, substance abuse, and sex work for survival.

Informative

Dark

Unnerving

Challenging

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.4

1,624 ratings

83%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Jonathan Kozol's Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in America garners praise for its poignant, humanizing portrayal of homelessness and compelling narrative. Critics commend its rigorous research and emotional depth but note that its bleak perspective and heavy focus on individual stories may overwhelm some readers. Overall, it is an impactful, if somber, read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in America?

Readers who appreciated The Other America by Michael Harrington or Evicted by Matthew Desmond will find Jonathan Kozol's Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in America compelling. It's ideal for those interested in social justice, urban poverty, and firsthand narratives of homelessness in the United States.

4.4

1,624 ratings

83%

Loved it

14%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

303

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

New York City • 1980s

Publication Year

1988

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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