Can't wait to see this one. Lilla and Dworkin is like a collaboration between Ken Vandermark and Wynton Marsalis.

In his heart-wrenching, informative, and ultimately inspiring book, Taylor explores the terrible conditions that migrant farm-working children are forced to suffer in, and the main reasons for this terrible abuse of young life. These main reasons include conservative notions of work ethic, financial and economic reasons, little or no enforcement of child labor laws, and the powerlessness of children and their families to end the vicious cycle that they are forced into.
Taylor's book, really an investigative report on a much grander scale, is divided chronologically into chapters that explore the reasons for child labor. The first chapter, entitled "The Myths," delves into the many long-standing myths that often form the root of child labor, the main one being that idleness in children is a sin, and that many, according to traditionalists such as Senator Charles S. Thomas, "have gone to the devil because of lack of occupation." In the other chapters, Taylor discovers the main reason that parents are forced to send their children into the fields and thus deny them an education: the extra income they provide is absolutely vital to the very survival of the family. Even though their standards of living are atrociously low- little or no health care, malnutrition, rampant disease and infection- the families still need the extra boost that children provide just to support themselves in these wretched conditions.
Finally, Taylor points out that these poor children are powerless to stop the terrible life they are literally forced into. In the conclusion of the book, he appeals to the legislative bodies whose minimal child-labor laws are really supportive of putting children to work instead of school, and the law enforcement that looks the other way. Child labor must be stopped, he says, because it is time to "begin to seek solutions that will guarantee these children a healthy, productive future."

What is child labor? Does child labor even exist? What are the causes of child labor? If any of these questions have ever crossed your mind, then you must read this book! Ronald B. Taylor does an amazing job of digging into the roots of an important issue that has been neglected for so long. He provides first hand, the stories of many children who have struggled to survive in harsh conditions as farmworkers. Taylor exposes the truth and provides the reader with new knowledge that one may never come across without reading this book. Taylor tracks the roots of child labor to the economy and shines light on what society has chosen to turn their backs on in the past. The only reason I felt this book is four of five stars is because of the time it was written. The information provided is from the 1930's to the 70's. However I feel the information may provide important facts on why child labor exists today in other under-developed countries. I would definately however, read this book if any of the three questions in the beginning have ever crossed your mind.

I felt more comfortable in the course knowing that I had an edge. This study guide really clarified ideas brought up in the text and gave me practice in areas where I needed more clarification. Thanks to you, I passed with flying colors!