This collection of papers reveals the systemic violence, poverty, educational neglect, and social disregard that shape the lives of poor children in the United States. After an introduction, "Savage Policies: Systemic Violence and the Lives of Children" (Valerie Polakow), there are eight chapters: (1) "A Crucible of Contradictions: Historical Roots of Violence against Children" (Barbara Finkelstein); (2) "Poverty and Environmentally Induced Damage to Children" (Sue Books); (3) "Poverty and Youth Violence: Not All Risk Factors are Created Equal" (Joseph A. Vorrasi and James Garbarino); (4) "Framing Children in the News: The Face and Color of Youth Crime in America" (LynNell Hancock); (5) "America's Least Wanted: Zero-Tolerance Policies and the Fate of Expelled Students" (Sasha Polakow-Suransky); (6) "Listen First: How Student Perspectives on Violence Can be Used to Create Safer Schools" (Pedro A. Noguera); (7) "'Look Out, Kid, It's Something You Did': The Criminalization of Children" (Bernadine Dohrn); and (8) "Throwaway Children: Conditions of Confinement and Incarceration" (James Bell). (Individual papers contain references.) (SM)