The book documents that juveniles who turn to prostitutiion do so for a host of reasons: they are abused at home and run away; they feel unloved and neglected; and they need money to support drug habits or their children. Those who work the streets as prostitutes range from the teenage girl who is seeking to gain approval from her pimp to the young homosexual boy who is looking for love and acceptance. All teen prostitutes interviewed tell stories of lives filled with despair, danger, and hopelessness. One of the problems in eliciting an effective response to teen prostitution is that the public views prostitution as old as humankind and does not sense that a crisis exists for these youths. Teen prostitution receives little media attention, and policymakers give the problem low priority. Moralizers encourage negative responses to these youth. Teen prostitution, however, is a significant issue of public order and public health. Prostitutes are a major market for drug dealers, and their sexual habits combined with intravenous drug use place them at high risk for AIDS. The book advocates preventive efforts that would include better family planning programs to prevent teens from having children that are subsequently abused. Prevention also requires outreach programs that will aid troubled parents who neglect or abuse their children. Prevention means more social workers and others to protect the safety of children. Prevention programs must also help youth who are growing up troubled, insecure, and with low self-esteem, so they will be helped before they "hit the streets." Chapter notes, a 79-item bibliography, and a subject index