Studies of the experience of Caribbean childhoods have in the past been undertaken almost exclusively from the perspective of adults rather than that of the children themselves. Christine Barrow departs from that tradition by focusing on the views of children as participants. The result is a fresh perspective on childhood and growing up that is different from those of parents guardians and adults in general.

The core of the study is based on the childhood narratives of some 28 men and women organised around a range of themes including migration, informal adoption and abandonment. Caribbean Childhoods adds a new dimension to our understanding of the rich diversity of Caribbean families and the context in which many children are raised.