Tales of the Un-Children; Books: Critic's Choice

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Byline: VAL HENNESSY

THE STORY OF CHILDHOOD by Libby Brooks (Bloomsbury, [pounds sterling]8.99)

AS WE age, childhood becomes another country. So writes Libby Brooks in her absorbing study of children growing up in modern Asboafflicted Britain.

She has selected nine very different stereotyped children (aged four to 16) - country child, council-flat child, black adolescent, Iraqi immigrant, public schoolboy, schoolgirl mother, etc - and lets them talk, thus conveying a wonderfully vivid impression of young lives today.

Interspersed with their experiences and observations are Brooks's comments and illuminating insights culled from history, literature and child experts.

Perhaps her most striking and depressing observation is that the 'indoor child' has become …