In The Quest for Mastery, Sam M. Intrator and Don Siegel investigate an emerging trend: the growth of out-of-school programs dedicated to helping underserved youth develop the personal qualities and capacities that will help them succeed in school, college, and beyond.

Intensive programs from rowing to youth radio, from lacrosse to studio art, aim to create communities of practice that capture young people s interest and support them as they strive to excel. Through richly detailed accounts, the authors describe the unconventional ways these programs have evolved and...