Adolescence, by Ian McMahan, combines rigorous, scientific coverage of adolescent development research with a scholarly yet enjoyable narrative style that is rarely found in textbooks. The table of contents follows an ecological systems framework to show how individual teens both affect and are affected by their families, peers, schools, and society. Adolescence also employs unique pedagogy to ensure students practice active learning and deep processing, focus on the practical applications of what they are studying, think critically and become educated consumers of the research.

Two overarching themes are explored throughout this text:

1.      Adolescent development involves individual, social and cultural systems.

2.      Positive adolescent development is the norm, though the media and research frequently concentrate on adolescent problems.