If you don't have the time to look into the source texts then this is a good book for you. This book gives a broad overview of adolescence and in the cases of Freud and Erikson, an in-depth treatment on the various pre-adolescent stages. Most illuminating for me was the chapter on one of America's greatest contributions to this field, Harry Stack Sullivan. His chapter on Erikson is also quite good. But, if you have the time, read some of the source books. I recommend Erikson's CHILDHOOD AND SOCIETY, IDENTITY: YOUTH AND CRISIS; Gilligan's IN A DIFFERENT VOICE, and Sullivan's THE INTERPERSONAL THEORY OF PSYCHIATRY.