Kozol returns to the scene of his prize-winning books Rachel and her children and Amazing Grace, and to the children he's portrayed there, to share their journeys and unexpected victories as they grow into adulthood.

Shadow of the past. The journey begins ; Eric and his sister ; Pietro and his children ; Silvio: invincible ; Alice Washington: the details of life -- A bright shining light. Survivors ; The boy who ate a giant bag of cookies while he walked me around the neighborhood, and his very interesting mom ; Pineapple comes of age (part one) ; Pineapple in all her glory (and still bossing me around) ; A life of the mind (Jeremy, part one) -- No easy victories (Jeremy, part two) -- The killing fields -- Number our days -- Pineapple has a few more things to say.