WHO SPEAKS FOR THE CHILDREN? GIVING VOICE TO A FORGOTTEN GENERATION Peter Silverman Toronto, Stoddart, 1989. 147pp, paper, $14.95 ISBN 0-7737-5257-9 Grades 12 and up/Ages 17 and up Reviewed by Susan E. Fowler. Volume 17 Number 4 1989 July Who speaks for the children? Peter Silverman does, in this new edition of his previous book on the child welfare system in Canada. Silverman begins with kids on the street. He makes the connection between teen runaways and violence at home. A chapter on the rights of children traces the history of children's position in the legal system. Next, workings of the family court system are described. Several case studies point out the problems of children in need. Those who are unwanted at home face such additional problems as an overextended court system, too few foster parents, inadequate funding, and public opinion against youth hostels and group homes. Frustrations experienced by foster parents and overworked child-care workers compound the problem. In his final chapter, Silverman deals with the topic of sexual abuse-its history, the reasons for it, characteristics of abusers, and the effects of such abuse on the victims. The conclusions of this book are pessimistic. Canadian society has not done much to alleviate the problems of child abuse. The short epilogue does provide some hope, however. Silverman, describing the relations between parents and teens in his own family, reminds us that, at an individual family level, "all it takes is a little bit of love." This book will be interesting reading for parents, teachers or anyone who deals with adolescents. Although the topic is a sensitive one, the casual style in which the book is written makes it suitable for senior high school students who are interested in this topic as well. Susan E. Fowler, Centennial S.S., Belleville, Ont.