Childhood & Youth

"We look at the world once, in childhood," writes poet Louise Glück. "The rest is memory." As adults, our childhood may lie in the past, but its influence never leaves us. This collection gathers texts that depict and examine the innocence and insights of childhood and youth.

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Disability, Race, Childhood & Youth

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Life-Inspired Fiction, Disability, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, World History

Paperboy by American author Vince Vawter explores themes of The Acceleration of the Civil Rights Movement, The Treatment of People With Speech Disorders, and Independence in Childhood through its singular voice. Published in 2013, Paperboy was a Newbery Medal Honor Book in 2014. Vawter, who worked for more than 40 years in the newspaper business, wrote Paperboy as a lightly fictionalized version of his own childhood, which contributes to the text’s authenticity. This guide references... Read Paperboy Summary

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Environment, Perseverance, Grief, Childhood & Youth, Friendship, Self Discovery, Safety & Danger

Tags Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Survival Fiction, Coming of Age

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Guilt, Hope, Love, Memory, Childhood & Youth, Daughters & Sons, Family, Mothers, Community, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Guilt, Regret, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Daughters & Sons, Self Discovery, Community, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies, Family

Tags Gender & Feminism, World History, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+

Publication year 1986

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Fathers, Language, Immigration, Objects & Materials, Memory, Childhood & Youth, Love, Food

Tags Lyric Poem, Ekphrastic, Free Verse, Relationships, Immigration & Refugeeism, Arts & Culture, Confessional, Asian Literature

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Colonialism, Teamwork, Loyalty & Betrayal, Friendship, Coming of Age, Childhood & Youth, Power & Greed, Community

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Action & Adventure, Humor, Children`s Literature, Coming of Age, Relationships, Trauma & Abuse, Poverty, American Literature

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Disability, Childhood & Youth, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Children`s Literature, Action & Adventure, Disability, Trauma & Abuse, Animals, American Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes is a middle grade novel by Jonathan Auxier originally published in 2011. The novel encompasses a variety of genres: fantasy, the heroic quest, and even some Dickensian orphan flourishes, for good measure. It was a BookPage Magazine Best Book of the year, an ABA New Voices selection (2011), and a finalist for the Monica Hughes Award for science fiction and fantasy.This study guide references the edition published by Amulet... Read Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes Summary

Publication year 1911

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mothers, Childhood & Youth

Tags Fairy Tale & Folklore, Classic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Fantasy

Author James Matthew Barrie adapted his 1904 play Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up to novel in 1911 with the hit Wendy and Peter, known today simply as the timeless classic Peter Pan. The mischievous character Peter Pan first appeared in Barrie's 1902 novel The Little White Bird and later in the 1906 novel Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. Barrie's works explore themes of coming-of-age, the importance of imagination, the clash of... Read Peter Pan Summary

Publication year 1956

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Social Class, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Midlife, Appearance & Reality, Daughters & Sons, Family, Mothers, Community, Education, Self Discovery

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance

Peyton Place is a novel depicting sensational and melodramatic events in a small New England town in the 1930s and 1940s; it was written by American novelist Grace Metalious and published in 1956. Peyton Place provoked controversy due to its depiction of taboo topics including sexuality, sexual abuse, and abortion. Nonetheless, the novel sold extremely well, and it was also adapted into successful films and television series. Metalious explores themes such as Shame and Ambivalence... Read Peyton Place Summary

Publication year 1945

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Truth & Lies, Childhood & Youth

Tags Humor, Children`s Literature, Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Scandinavian Literature

Pippi Longstocking is a middle grade fiction novel written by Astrid Lindgren and originally published in Sweden in 1945. It was first translated into English and published in the United States in 1950. Pippi’s bold spirit and fiery nature were endearing and appealing in the post-war era and through many decades afterward. Her story illuminates the Imagination and Ingenuity of childhood, the Strength of Body and Mind embodied by young girls, and the importance of... Read Pippi Longstocking Summary

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Joy, Memory, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Death, Space, Family, Self Discovery, Community, Economics, Education, Beauty, Justice, Order & Chaos, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology, Trust & Doubt

Tags Children`s Literature, World History, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Disability

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Grief, Memory, Nostalgia, Disability, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, The Past, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Realistic Fiction, Sports

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Childhood & Youth, Self Discovery, Power & Greed

Tags Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction

Publication year 1986

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Fathers, Mothers, Siblings, Mental Health, Masculinity, Childhood & Youth

Tags Romance, Southern Literature, Trauma & Abuse, Depression & Suicide, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Classic Fiction