In this book juvenile delinquency is appraised by a lawyer not in legal terms nor in concepts of criminal nor moral codes, but in terms of illness, and physical and psychologic symptoms of dysfunction are described. Individual chapters of the book are given over to descriptions of character types, with numerous case reports about the mentally retarded, emotionally unstable, neurotic, physically ill and socially handicapped child. The development of deviant behavior in these individuals is illustrated. Habitual truancy from school is listed as an important early manifestation, and it is emphasized that this should serve as a danger signal to teachers and other school personnel including physicians and nurses.