A vivid rendering of the educational, social, and physical environment of two elementary schools in contrasting socioeconomic settings, this book calls attention to the importance of place in human lives and learning. The author draws from systematic observations conducted over a three-year period, presenting the schools and the persons who inhabit them via a fictionalized narrative. This treatment allows readers to understand how the material conditions of poverty and wealth inform children's worldview without compromising the identity of the study participants. Written by an eminent African-American professor of architecture and urban planning who is an outspoken advocate for social justice, this book is a rare gem.