Huck’s Raft

Steven Mintz’s book Huck's Raft: A History of American Childhood is a thorough discussion of the topic. He goes from early colonial times to the modern day, covering children of all races, classes, and backgrounds. For example, the book depicts life as a young black slave, an Irish servant girl, or a teenager fighting on either side of the Civil War.

Mintz demonstrates how the life of children and the adult perception of them have changed over the centuries. It’s a long book, at almost 400 pages, full of vivid personal accounts and factual content. Huck's Raft is impressive and well-written, if you have the persistence to get through it.