The Relationship Rights of Children

James Dwyer is perhaps the foremost scholar on children's rights in the United States. This book only adds to his accomplishments. The current legal system does more to protect parents who abuse and neglect their children than it does to protect the children. We force children to be in relationships that are to their detriment that they would never choose for themselves. Dwyer's ideas may seem radical, but his methodical arguments leave little doubt at their conclusion. To his credit he addresses counterarguments to his position that are substantive, rather than merely strawmen. In the process he gives one of the best overviews of the topic individual autonomy that I have seen. For anyone who works to protect children, this book is required reading. When it comes to doing what is best children, our society talks a good game but does little service. The system is fundamentally flawed: this book shows the flaws and how to fix them.