If educational reform is to succeed, it must attend to the perspectives of students-those most directly affected by schooling, but least often consulted about its efficacy. This is the premise of the first book both to feature student perspectives on school and to foreground student voices; middle and high school students are the primary authors of the eight chapters collected in this volume aptly titled In Our Own Words. Reflecting differences of gender, racial, and ethnic background, and school context, the student authors write passionately and eloquently about their experiences of and desires for school.

Contributions by: Maribelis Alfaro, Quentina Judon, Kristin Dunderdale, Steven Marzan, Dorothy V. Holt, Darreisha Bates, Margo Strucker