This report reviews six recently published books on the education of urban and minority youth, and the social and cultural environment in which they live. "The Homeless in Contemporary Society" (edited by R. D. Bingham, R. E. Green, and S. B. White), is a primer on homelessness in America. "Gender Influences in Classroom Interaction" (edited by L. C. Wilkinson and C. B. Marrett) consists of 11 conference papers that discuss the ways that gender-related differences are manifested in school. "Effective Education: A Minority Policy Perspective" (C. V. Willie) presents a case for maintaining the integrity of black culture throughout a student's educational experience. "Class, Race, & Gender in American Education" (edited by L. Weis) consists of 13 essays that address the ways schools foster inequalities based on students' sex, race, and class. "Toward Black Undergraduate Student Equality in American Higher Education" (edited by M. T. Nettles) consists of a collection of essays that document the barriers that black college-bound students must overcome, and makes recommendations for educational reform, government policy, and private agency programs that can reduce these obstacles. "Policies for America's Public Schools: Teachers, Equity & Indicators" (edited by R. Haskins and D. MacRae) consists of nine papers that cover the three education areas that the editors believe are most in need of reform: (1) teachers and teaching; (2) diversity and equity; and (3) the uses of information and educational indicators. (FMW)