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Abandoned: America’s Lost Youth and the Crisis of Disconnection
A deeply affecting exposé of America’s hidden crisis of disconnected youth, in the tradition of Matthew Desmond and Adrian Nicole LeBlanc
For the majority of young adults today, the transition to independence is a time of excitement and possibility. But 4.5 million young people—or a stunning 11.5 percent of youth aged sixteen to twenty-four—experience entry into adulthood as abrupt abandonment, a time of disconnection from school, work, and family. For this growing population of Americans, which includes kids aging out of foster care and those entangled with the justice system, life screeches to a halt when adulthood arrives. Abandoned is the first-ever exploration of this tale of dead ends and broken dreams.
Author Anne Kim skillfully weaves heart-rending stories of young people navigating early adulthood alone, in communities where poverty is endemic and opportunities almost nonexistent. She then describes a growing awareness—including new research from the field of adolescent brain science—that “emerging adulthood” is just as crucial a developmental period as early childhood, and she profiles an array of unheralded programs that provide young people with the supports they need to achieve self-sufficiency.
A major work of deeply reported narrative nonfiction, Abandoned joins the small shelf of books that change the way we see our society and point to a different path forward.
For the majority of young adults today, the transition to independence is a time of excitement and possibility. But 4.5 million young people—or a stunning 11.5 percent of youth aged sixteen to twenty-four—experience entry into adulthood as abrupt abandonment, a time of disconnection from school, work, and family. For this growing population of Americans, which includes kids aging out of foster care and those entangled with the justice system, life screeches to a halt when adulthood arrives. Abandoned is the first-ever exploration of this tale of dead ends and broken dreams.
Author Anne Kim skillfully weaves heart-rending stories of young people navigating early adulthood alone, in communities where poverty is endemic and opportunities almost nonexistent. She then describes a growing awareness—including new research from the field of adolescent brain science—that “emerging adulthood” is just as crucial a developmental period as early childhood, and she profiles an array of unheralded programs that provide young people with the supports they need to achieve self-sufficiency.
A major work of deeply reported narrative nonfiction, Abandoned joins the small shelf of books that change the way we see our society and point to a different path forward.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published February 11, 2020
4 people are currently reading
937 people want to read
About the author
Anne Kim
2 books39 followersAnne Kim is a writer, lawyer, and public policy expert with a long career in Washington, DC–based think tanks working in and around Capitol Hill. She is a senior editor at Washington Monthly. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Governing, TheAtlantic.com, the Wall Street Journal, Democracy, and numerous other publications. The author of Abandoned: America’s Lost Youth and the Crisis of Disconnection (The New Press), she lives in northern Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 21, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book did a great job of touching on several aspects of what is termed "disconnected youth". This is such an important subject and does need a lot more attention and focus. The author describes the aspects well and brings awareness to this crisis.
This book did a great job of touching on several aspects of what is termed "disconnected youth". This is such an important subject and does need a lot more attention and focus. The author describes the aspects well and brings awareness to this crisis.
October 2, 2019
As a foster parent, I deal with disconnected teenagers and the problems are myriad. One is that adoptions favor younger children, and most programs are focused on this kids. The other issue is that that by the time the kids are teenagers they have trouble adjusting to changes, the medical diagnosis is "adjustment disorder" which many foster kids have. Even when they are provided with a home and resources that they need, they tend to sabotage themselves and try to return to the lifestyle they had before. There need to be many more resources that focus on the needs of these particular kids, including remedial education and mental health services which are not available.
September 7, 2020
Very quick and easy read. I thought this might be a possibility for a freshman common read, but I don’t think it would pique kids’ interest. The footnotes are amazing, though, and have directed me to some interesting studies on first gen students and non-profits.
December 13, 2020
A readable balance of statistical and anecdotal data depicting how America's social and economic inequalities manifest among young adults, including a comprehensive argument for how systemic changes could be made.
March 11, 2021
Excellent. This won the Social Justice Book Prize at Goddard Riverside which is why I read it. Great exploration of issues facing young adults today and many great programs that are worthy of investment.
December 1, 2020
Anne Kim writes, “What I have tried to argue in this book is that young adults for too long have been the missing link in our national conversation about opportunity, inequality, and the future of American prosperity” (194) in her book, Abandoned: America’s lost youth and the crisis of disconnection.
Kim writes about young people between the ages of 18 and 24 (primarily). She argues that there is a significant number of youth in that age group who are uneducated, not being trained, and/or not employed. This leads to an upcoming block of people who see only hopelessness.
In the first two sections of her book, she argues that the problems can be found in systemic racism, inequality, lack of educational opportunity, racist justice systems, being dropped from the state systems of support – especially for youth in foster care, etc.
Kim argues these points and buffets them with anecdotes.
In the final two sections, she argues for answers: broken systems have to be repaired, systemic racism has to end, urban deserts need to be made alive again with an influx of government money to put schools, hospitals, and other necessary support systems within reach, schools out to be systematized such that they lead from school to a career – even that companies sponsor students to take courses and learn such that they are employable in those companies immediately upon graduation, apprenticeship should have a wider use, and youth should have a mentor who guides them.
Rather than ignoring these abandoned youth, she argues that we ensure each one counts by tracking them to know where resources should go and how they are affecting them (177-178). The government needs to invest far more money in programs that work (178). Businesses need to step up and provide for them (180). Opportunities need to be available everywhere (182). Schools need to be linked to careers (186). The pipeline from the foster care system to the justice system must be stopped (189). Finally, young people must be listened to, so we know what they want from us (191).
Kim’s argument for a bigger government is not persuasive to me. I have a hard time believing that the government can solve our problems.
However, I agree with her that there are things that the government can do – especially on the local level – making sure that access is available for every young person to be in school, training, or employed. And there are people who cannot help themselves – for a time or for their lives – the mentally ill could fit in that category.
I also think it is a great idea to have schools and companies linked. This could help schools to phase out garbage majors. That is, there are studies that usually lead to employment, and there are studies that do not. There is nothing wrong with having an interest or studying something, but the major study should be one that can effectively lead to a good, income-producing job.
I agree that young people need mentors. Even more – to the greatest extent possible – they need to be raised in two parent households.
And, of course, racism is evil, and any system that is broken should be fixed.
I would add that it would be of great value for young people to be involved in a faith-based setting in which they could be part of a larger support group. Faith-based groups would need to be more accepting and desirous to help youth and be willing to help mentor them, but it is right that they do so. Too often, youth are seen as a bother or a threat.
I don’t agree with all of the author’s prescriptions, but she is right – there is a problem with the youth of today – and we are part of the cause of it, and we can do things to help them.
[This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]
Kim writes about young people between the ages of 18 and 24 (primarily). She argues that there is a significant number of youth in that age group who are uneducated, not being trained, and/or not employed. This leads to an upcoming block of people who see only hopelessness.
In the first two sections of her book, she argues that the problems can be found in systemic racism, inequality, lack of educational opportunity, racist justice systems, being dropped from the state systems of support – especially for youth in foster care, etc.
Kim argues these points and buffets them with anecdotes.
In the final two sections, she argues for answers: broken systems have to be repaired, systemic racism has to end, urban deserts need to be made alive again with an influx of government money to put schools, hospitals, and other necessary support systems within reach, schools out to be systematized such that they lead from school to a career – even that companies sponsor students to take courses and learn such that they are employable in those companies immediately upon graduation, apprenticeship should have a wider use, and youth should have a mentor who guides them.
Rather than ignoring these abandoned youth, she argues that we ensure each one counts by tracking them to know where resources should go and how they are affecting them (177-178). The government needs to invest far more money in programs that work (178). Businesses need to step up and provide for them (180). Opportunities need to be available everywhere (182). Schools need to be linked to careers (186). The pipeline from the foster care system to the justice system must be stopped (189). Finally, young people must be listened to, so we know what they want from us (191).
Kim’s argument for a bigger government is not persuasive to me. I have a hard time believing that the government can solve our problems.
However, I agree with her that there are things that the government can do – especially on the local level – making sure that access is available for every young person to be in school, training, or employed. And there are people who cannot help themselves – for a time or for their lives – the mentally ill could fit in that category.
I also think it is a great idea to have schools and companies linked. This could help schools to phase out garbage majors. That is, there are studies that usually lead to employment, and there are studies that do not. There is nothing wrong with having an interest or studying something, but the major study should be one that can effectively lead to a good, income-producing job.
I agree that young people need mentors. Even more – to the greatest extent possible – they need to be raised in two parent households.
And, of course, racism is evil, and any system that is broken should be fixed.
I would add that it would be of great value for young people to be involved in a faith-based setting in which they could be part of a larger support group. Faith-based groups would need to be more accepting and desirous to help youth and be willing to help mentor them, but it is right that they do so. Too often, youth are seen as a bother or a threat.
I don’t agree with all of the author’s prescriptions, but she is right – there is a problem with the youth of today – and we are part of the cause of it, and we can do things to help them.
[This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]
April 29, 2020
This book is too short to be this broad.
June 13, 2020
An excellent example of fear mongering from someone who has no connection with the issue at hand, but a lot to do with the traffic of power down in Washington.
September 1, 2020
Please read my review on Amazon.com under C. Wong. Thank you.
Want to read
October 5, 20202020 Goddard Riverside Stephan Russo Book Prize for Social Justice shortlist
February 5, 2020
Abandoned is one of those books that will stay with you and that should be recommended. Disconnection in the youth population is an issue that needs more attention and this book does a great job highlighting several forms of disconnection within the population of 16/18-24 year olds in our current political climate.
The author does an amazing job addressing the topics, using real world stories from disconnected youth, and shocking statistics to clearly layout why and how this has become an issue that need addressing.
Thank you to The New Press as I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The author does an amazing job addressing the topics, using real world stories from disconnected youth, and shocking statistics to clearly layout why and how this has become an issue that need addressing.
Thank you to The New Press as I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2019
This was a heartbreaking book. I loved it, but it was heartbreaking. Unflinching honesty and prose. I just wanted to scoop up the main character and give a big hug. The story is the reality for so many people in the world, and it makes me even sadder. The book and story is very good and I highly recommend it.
September 25, 2019
This one’s a must-read. This is a heartbreaking, in-depth look at the tragedy that affects too many young people in our country. Abandoned looks at history, how we got here, the many ways disconnect affects our youth, and ways to assist. There’s so much to learn.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews