Huck's raft

"Whether at work or at play, at home of school, the transition from childhood to adulthood has required generations of Americans to tackle tremendously difficult challenges. Today, adults impose ever-increasing demands on the young for self-discipline, cognitive development, and academic achievement, even as the influence of the mass media and consumer culture has grown. With a nod to the past, Mintz revisits an alternative to the goal-driven realities of contemporary childhood. An odyssey of psychological self discovery and growth, this book suggests a vision of childhood that embraces risk and freedom - like the daring adventure on Huck's raft."--BOOK JACKET.