Children and youth occupy important social and political roles, even as they sleep in cribs or hang out on street corners. Conceptualized as either harbingers or saboteurs of a bright, secure tomorrow, they have motivated many adult-driven schemes to effect a positive future. But have all children benefited from these programs and initiatives? Lost Kids examines adults" misgivings about, and the inadequate care of, vulnerable children. From explorations of interracial adoption and the treatment of children with disabilities to discussions of the cultural construction of the hopeless child, this multifaceted collection rejects the essentialism of the "priceless child" or "lost youth" - simplistic categories that continue to shape the treatment of those who deviate from the socalled norm.Mona Gleason is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Studies, Tamara Myers and Leslie Paris are associate professors in the Department of History, and Veronica Strong-Boag is a professor in the Women"s Studies and Educational Studies departments, all at the University of British Columbia.Contributors: Ted Alexander, Denyse Baillargeon, Cindy L. Baldassi, Susan B. Boyd, William Bush, Karen Dubinsky, Wendy Frisby, John Irwin, Fiona Kelly, Molly LaddTaylor, Stephen McBride, Janna Taylor, and Neil Sutherland.