The book explores the factors that contribute to adolescent and young adult homelessness, including sexual abuse, domestic violence, incest, poverty, drug abuse, illiteracy, and the failure of the social services that are designed to save them. Most of the young people who agreed to be interviewed for this book did so in order to help other potential runaways. They beseeched troubled teenagers to seek alternatives to the street, though they would not advise them to stay in unhappy homes. The interviews also provided these kids with an opportunity to receive some attention, and perhaps, to wreak some measure of revenge on parents who had hurt them. Kids may beat the streets with the help of good role models, diversion programs, accessible medical and mental health services, and alternative education programs.