Monstrous Youth: Transgressing the Boundaries of Childhood in the United States: SARA AUSTIN, 2002, Columbus, Ohio, The Ohio State University Press, pp.vii-180, illus., $134.95 (cloth), $32.95 (paper).

Sara Austin's book, "Monstrous Youth: Transgressing the Boundaries of Childhood in the United States," explores the portrayal of monsters in mass media and their connection to cultural fears and the changing social boundaries of identity and citizenship. Austin discusses how monsters in popular culture are used by adults to educate or control young people, while young people themselves can embrace and identify with these monstrous figures. The book examines different time periods, including the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s, and analyzes various forms of media such as comic books, picture books, television shows, and movies. Austin's work provides a cultural lens through which to understand and analyze monstrous works of horror and their impact on children. [Extracted from the article]