This collection of essays covers a number of topics in education and educational reform. Like much of educational research, it is heavy on the anecdote and light on the data, but it is generally sensible. Prof. Noguera emphasizes the role racial identity plays in the observed behavior of black boys: the defensiveness that turns into agression, the posturing, and the discipline problems. He insists that students have to be seen as playing a role in their own development--they are not passive receptors, but have some responsibility for their own behavior.

Much of the rest of the book is concerned with educational reform. Here Noguera draws on sociology to argue that the development of social capital in poor neighborhoods could lead to significant improvements in urbal education. In addition, he argues that schools could play an important part in the development of that capital by allowing poor parents of color to organize, lobby, and shape the educational policies that cripple inner-city schools. ( )