Over the Peanut Fence: Scaling Barriers for Homeless and Runaway Youths

Former science museum president Marilynne Eichinger reveals what she learned when she and her partner invited a twenty-year-old homeless youth to live in their home. He was discovered  on the streets begging for money, food, and shelter while struggling with drug addiction. His tale along, with nine other gripping stories, are intermingled with current research and statistics in order to shed light on why some youth overcome childhood abuse and neglect, while others do not. Eichinger discusses the reasons kids run to the streets, what they do to survive, and how abuse and neglect affect developing brains. She pays homage to the compassionate case workers, librarians, and teachers who make a positive difference to their lives. The author suggests ways to reach struggling souls and to help stressed students learn so they can find a path forward. This hopeful book is a call to action for youth agencies, universities, libraries, governments, parents and volunteers to work together to solve a national problem.