More youth live in poverty and poor youth comprise a larger share of the youth population than was the case a decade ago. This article first provides a descriptive analysis of children in poverty; examining the incidence of poverty among children by selected demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic characteristics with a particular focus on adolescents aged 12 to 17. Then it reviews what we know about the consequences of poverty on adolescents and the main theories used to explain how poverty impacts youth outcomes. (Contains 1 table, 2 figures, and 3 footnotes.)