Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children

by Lisa M. Lawson

From the noted business and foundation leader, a bold new argument for harnessing brain science to make sure all children thrive



At nine, a boy named Sixto Cancel was adopted by a woman who kept a lock on her refrigerator and was verbally abusive. Meanwhile, extended and loving family members lived just an hour away—and would have taken him in if a public system had made an effort to find them. Sixto moved in and out of broken households for years, one of the hundreds of thousands of young Americans who lack the relationships essential to succeeding in adulthood.



A major new book for parents and policymakers alike, Thrive argues that how we understand the unequal experiences of adolescence holds the key to ensuring that all children have an equal chance of becoming successful adults. Drawing on her deep engagement with public systems and youth at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, author Lisa M. Lawson condenses a broad range of brain science, exploring the personal and institutional structures every child needs, as well as the shocking gaps in our systems for disadvantaged children.



Arguing that we all have a shared stake in helping young people navigate the road to adulthood, Lawson lays out the ways that families, government, nonprofits, and business can draw lessons from science—and take steps to help all young people thrive.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

Published September 16, 2025

Reviews

[Trista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biggest takeaway: treating adolescence as you do early childhood from a developmental perspective.