The law is so central to understanding childhood that it is surprising that this book is not one of dozens on the subject. Yet, as Michael Freeman argues convincingly in the introduction, lawyers do not always know much of the theorising that has gone on in Childhood Studies and those in Childhood Studies have tended to focus only on certain aspects of the law, such as children's rights, and have overlooked some of the broader areas of shared interest. This book is extremely timely therefore in bringing together the interests of these two disciplines and should be essential reading for students and academics in both fields. The 31 chapters are written on an eclectic mix of topics, by established academics and PhD students, and the subject matter covers the entire range of children's experiences with the law, from the more traditional arenas in which children's issues have been discussed such as family courts or the criminal justice system, to more recent problems such as cyber bullying or personal damage cases brought against children. Each chapter sets out a compelling case for mutual understanding and closer cooperation and shows the centrality of the law in all discussions of contemporary childhoods. The central area of overlap between the two disciplines is, of course, children's rights and several chapters in the book look at the legal histories of children's rights and the ways that particular articles of the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child (UNCRC) have been interpreted and contested in the courts. There are some excellent and thought-provoking case studies from a number of different countries with differing legal traditions. Yet there is more to children's rights than the UNCRC and the complex interaction between various national, regional and international treaties is highlighted by several authors. Furthermore, the problems of how to implement children's rights and translate them from philosophical ideals into tangible means of ensuring social justice for children are common areas of interest and it is often lawyers, judges and lawmakers who have to turn these principles into reality. Many chapters point to the tension that exists between children's rights and children's welfare; whether the two are compatible and which should take priority. There are no easy answers, but the many examples given here from across the world show how concepts such as the best interests of the child are understood by various social actors, including children, and how these concepts might translate, not always straightforwardly, into practice. Another area of shared interest is the question of age and its impact on childhood. It is now axiomatic in Childhood Studies that the use of chronological age as a marker between childhood and adulthood is a bureaucratic fiction imposed on children and subject to social change. In contrast, the law is clear in its definitions and adult responsibilities are accrued incrementally when a child reaches particular ages. However, the reality is more complex and lawyers and judges must make decisions about children's competencies, their development and the best ways their rights can be realised. Increasingly, all those who specialise in studying childhood, from whatever perspective and disciplinary background, must ask themselves the same questions: What is a child? What is ‘normal’ child development? How do definitions of childhood affect how children are treated? What is the relationship between children's vulnerability and their role as social actors? How can adults both protect and empower children? It would be unfair to single out any chapter for particular praise when the standard of writing is consistently high throughout and when each author raises different, complex and fascinating issues which deserve a commentary in themselves. The variety of chapters makes this an easy book to dip into, although reading it as a whole gives a clearer and more comprehensive sense of the way that law underpins every aspect of children's lives, including their health, their capacity for autonomous action or their experiences of gender or disability. The international reach of this book is particularly welcome and the contrasting case studies are used well to illustrate the variety of childhoods. This is an important and most welcome book that is likely to define the field for many years to come.