Divorce, Family Structure, and the Academic Success of Children.

W. Jeynes. New York: The Haworth Press, 2002. 205 pp. $49.94 (hardcover); $24.95 (softcover). The effect of family changes on children's academic success is a relatively new subject for study. The author, a leader in this field, has published a number of articles on the effect of parental divorce and family structure on children's academic achievement. In this well-organized and well-documented book, Jeynes brings research on this subject up-to-date and offers suggestions for future research in the field. He summarizes current knowledge of the various influences on children's emotional and educational well-being, including: 1) divorce and remarriage, 2) single-parent families, 3) nontraditional family structures, 4) race, 5) socioeconomic status, and 6) mobility.

With this comprehensive volume, Jeynes has made a significant contribution to the literature by carefully examining the research studies that focus on the effects of family structure on the academic achievement of children from a number of different perspectives. The book is highly recommended for classroom teachers and administrators who are trying to deal on a daily basis with the challenges of teaching children from nontraditional families. Jeynes's book will help others better understand why there are no easy answers when dealing with these issues. Reviewed by Robert L. Gilstrap, Professor Emeritus, George Mason University, now living at Lake Monticello, VA