This work investigates the fundamental shift in American youth culture during the 1920s and how this generational divergence redefined the social fabric of the United States. Paula S. Fass, a historian specializing in the social history of childhood and education, utilizes extensive archival research and sociological data to examine the transition from Victorian-era norms to the modern youth identity. She argues that the emergence of a distinct youth subculture was not merely a reaction to the post-war era but a structural change in how American society organized its social and educational institutions.

Historians frequently cite this text as a foundational study for understanding the origins of modern American adolescence. Scholars often note the depth of the research, which provides a comprehensive look at how the 1920s established the template for contemporary youth culture.