ALA Booklist (Mon May 01 00:00:00 CDT 1995)

Not as specific as Hempleman's Teen Legal Rights , this narrow, but readable review of advances in protections for children presents some brief historical perspective before turning to modern times. Landau provides pivotal connecting commentary, but the bulk of the book comprises cases--including the celebrated and the sensational--that have heightened awareness of children's rights, predominantly in areas of child custody and abuse and neglect. Certainly the stories give the subject some flash, and Landau summarizes them smoothly, with enough gritty details to keep the pages turning. Discussion of specific rights, however, is relegated to a section at the back of the book in which 26 legal issues of interest to minors are addressed. That may mean teens won't come away knowing a whole lot more about the particulars of their rights than they knew before. What they will glean from this, however, is a clear view of how bad things were and still can be. (Reviewed May 15, 1995)

Horn Book (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 1995)

*That Affect Your Life A rushed overview utilizes recent well-known cases of parental abuse and children suing their parents for divorce or fighting school systems, to show that young people have legal rights that are protected by law. Unfortunately, most of the practical advice for empowerment is found in a very brief appendix that includes a question-and-answer section and a list of child welfare organizations. Bib.

School Library Journal

Gr 5-9-After reviewing some headline-making custody cases, Landau presents a brief historical overview of the treatment of children within families, society at large, and as part of the labor force. She discusses the development of laws to safeguard young people, and outlines procedures to follow to guarantee their protection. Addresses of related organizations and a comprehensive bibliography are included. While this book will primarily be utilized for school assignments, its lively writing style makes it of interest to youngsters wanting to explore this topic.-Ann M. Burlingame, North Regional Library, Raleigh, NC