這是對我們國家面臨的最緊迫、最有害、最令人心碎的問題之一的重要且不容忽視的審查：美國兒童普遍存在的貧窮現象。
根據官方統計，每六個美國兒童中就有一個以上生活在貧窮線以下。但單憑統計數據並不能說明什麼。
在《隱形的美國人》一書中，傑夫‧馬德里克揭露了美國兒童貧窮這一常被忽視的現實及其無法彌補的傷害。
他把焦點放在兒童身上，探討了問題的根源，包括社會福利制度的軟弱殘餘、根深蒂固的種族主義，以及政府無力幫助最無聲的公民。
在新的明確研究的支持下，他闡明了貧窮成長所帶來的毀滅性後果：即使是暫時的貧窮生活也會對兒童的認知能力、情緒控制和整體健康造成不利影響。
社會所付出的代價是無法估量的。政客的不作為是不可接受的。不過，馬德里克認為，現在比以往任何時候都更有理由抱持希望。
我們不必試圖治療貧窮的症狀，而是可以透過他在這份充滿激情和緊迫的號召中提出的單一、簡單且政治上可行的政策來改善貧窮的最壞影響。
An essential, and impossible-to-ignore, examination of one of the most pressing, harmful, and heartbreaking problems facing our country: the widespread poverty among American children.
By official count, more than one out of every six American children live beneath the poverty line. But statistics alone tell little of the story. In Invisible Americans, Jeff Madrick brings to light the often invisible reality and irreparable damage of child poverty in America. Keeping his focus on the children, he examines the roots of the problem, including the toothless remnants of our social welfare system, entrenched racism, and a government unmotivated to help the most voiceless citizens. Backed by new and unambiguous research, he makes clear the devastating consequences of growing up poor: living in poverty, even temporarily, is detrimental to cognitive abilities, emotional control, and the overall health of children. The cost to society is incalculable. The inaction of politicians is unacceptable. Still, Madrick argues, there may be more reason to hope now than ever before. Rather than attempting to treat the symptoms of poverty, we might be able to ameliorate its worst effects through a single, simple, and politically feasible policy that he lays out in this impassioned and urgent call to arms.
