Publication year 2020
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Coming of Age, Fame, Masculinity
Tags Arts & Culture, Philosophy, Philosophy, Biography, Self-Improvement
Coming-of-Age Journeys
Coming-of-age journeys, academically known as Bildungsromane, focus on the stories of young people embarking on the path to adulthood. These are stories of self-actualization, questions of identity, discoveries of shortcomings and strengths, and lessons learned. This collection of study guides covers classics to contemporary novels, from J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger to As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds.
Greenlights
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
Guns For General Washington
Guts
Gwendy's Button Box
Half Brother
Half His Age
Hanging Fire
Hang the Moon
Harbor me
Harris and Me
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
Hatchet
Hattie Big Sky
Have You Seen Luis Velez?
Headshot
Heartbeat
Heartless
Publication year 2020
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Coming of Age, Fame, Masculinity
Tags Arts & Culture, Philosophy, Philosophy, Biography, Self-Improvement
Publication year 2004
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Grief, Joy, Love, Revenge, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Nature Versus Nurture, Place, Family, Friendship, Siblings, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, War, Equality, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt
Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Animals, Science Fiction
Publication year 1990
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Coming of Age, Climate, Environment, Siblings, Teamwork, War
Tags Children`s Literature, Education, Education, US History, World History, Historical Fiction, American Revolution
Publication year 2001
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Literature, Perseverance, Coming of Age, Animals, Environment, Food
Tags Action & Adventure
Guts: The True Stories Behind Hatchet and the Brian Books by Gary Paulsen is a 2001 nonfiction work covering the events that inspired the author to write Hatchet, a 1986 survival bildungsroman and Newbery Medal winner listed among the top 100 children’s books of all time by School Library Journal (“School Library Journal Top 100 Children’s Novels, 2012 Poll.” Library Thing). The award-winning novel follows Brian Robeson as he survives alone in the remote Canadian... Read Guts Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Guilt, Loneliness, Coming of Age, Friendship, Self Discovery, Fate
Tags Horror & Suspense, Fantasy, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Coming of Age
Gwendy’s Button Box is a horror fantasy novella written by the American authors Stephen King and Richard Chizmar. It is the first in a trilogy and was published in 2018. The novel follows Gwendy Peterson, a young and awkward middle school student, whose life changes when she becomes the guardian of a magical button box that has the potential for extreme good and extreme destruction. The novella explores themes such as Fate Versus Free Will... Read Gwendy's Button Box Summary
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Family, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Forgiveness, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Language, Coming of Age, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Nature Versus Nurture, Fathers, Siblings, Teamwork, Justice, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology
Tags Historical Fiction, Animals, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Half Brother (2010) is a young adult novel by Kenneth Oppel. In the novel, Oppel combines and fictionalizes several experiments in which chimpanzees learned sign language to communicate. The story follows the Tomlin family as they adopt a baby chimpanzee to see if it can learn and use language. Through this experiment and its effect on the characters, the text explores the themes of family, belonging, animal rights, communication, individuality, and growing up. The novel... Read Half Brother Summary
Publication year 2026
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Loneliness, Femininity, Coming of Age, Power & Greed
Tags Contemporary Literature, Literary Fiction
Publication year 1978
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Fear, Race, Femininity, Mothers
Tags Free Verse, Race & Racism, Gender & Feminism
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Family, Coming of Age, Social Class
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Life-Inspired Fiction, Gender & Feminism, Mystery & Crime Fiction, World History
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Music, Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Diversity, Immigration & Refugeeism, Race & Racism, Bullying, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts & Culture
Jacqueline Woodson's 2018 middle grade novel, Harbor Me, tracks the bonds of friendship that develop across six fifth-graders when they are given a unique opportunity to get to know each other. Amari, Esteban, Tiago, Ashton, Holly, and Haley Shondell McGrath (the narrator) are students with special learning needs in a Brooklyn school. Each friend has fears and frustrations that they share with each other over the year, and by opening up, they discover a collective... Read Harbor me Summary
Publication year 1993
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Family, Friendship, Coming of Age
Tags Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure
Drawing on his childhood experiences, Gary Paulsen’s novel for young readers, Harris and Me: A Summer Remembered (1993, 1st edition), contains 12 vignettes chronicling the narrator’s visit to his distant relatives on a farm over one summer. In addition to the culture shock of adjusting to rural life, the book also centers on the narrator’s relationship with his reckless and adventurous country cousin, Harris, and the process of finding acceptance as part of a family... Read Harris and Me Summary
Publication year 1998
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Coming of Age, Fate, Community, Friendship, Fame
Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a 1998 young adult fantasy novel by J.K. Rowling, the second in the Harry Potter series. The story follows Harry’s tumultuous second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, including an encounter with Voldemort, the wizard who killed Harry’s parents. Against this fantastic backdrop, Rowling examines such themes as death, fame, friendship, choice, and prejudice. Upon release, the novel became a worldwide bestseller and won several... Read Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets Summary
Publication year 2000
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Death, Friendship, Trust & Doubt, Loyalty & Betrayal, Coming of Age, Good & Evil
Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Classic Fiction
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth installment of the seven-book series by J.K. Rowling. Although the Harry Potter series has been marked by widespread commercial success, The Goblet of Fire is the only novel in the series to receive the prestigious Hugo Award for science fiction and fantasy. In the fourth novel of the beloved children’s book series, Harry Potter returns for his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and... Read Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire Summary
Publication year 1999
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Fear, Coming of Age, Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Classic Fiction
The Prisoner of Azkaban is the third installment of the best-selling Harry Potter series by the British author J.K. Rowling. The highly successful fantasy series was adapted into film beginning in 2001, and in 2004 the film adaptation of The Prisoner of Azkaban was released. The story takes place during Harry Potter’s third year as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry is forced to uncover painful and complex secrets of the... Read Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban Summary
Publication year 1987
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Environment, Religion & Spirituality, Coming of Age
Tags Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Classic Fiction
Hatchet, a Newbery Award-winning novel published in 1987 by author Gary Paulsen, is an esteemed story about a young boy’s struggle to survive after his airplane crashes in the Canadian wilderness. This work of young adult fiction appeals to readers of all ages for its descriptive prose and exciting plot. This guide refers to the 1999 First Aladdin Paperbacks edition.Plot SummaryThirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is in the middle of his parent’s divorce and struggling to contain... Read Hatchet Summary
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Loneliness, Race, Coming of Age, Climate, Environment, Place, Friendship, Community, Immigration, War
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, World War I
Kirby Larson’s Hattie Big Sky is a 2006 young adult historical fiction novel that won the Newbery Honor Award. Larson is a young adult author who specializes in writing historical fiction centering on strong female protagonists. Set during World War I, the novel follows Hattie Brooks as she travels to Montana to work on the farm that her uncle leaves to her after he dies. The novel explores themes of community, overcoming adversity, and issues... Read Hattie Big Sky Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Hope, Coming of Age, Friendship, Family
Tags Coming of Age, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Femininity, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Future, Self Discovery, Social Class, Education, Fame, Wins & Losses
Tags Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2004
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Aging, Death, Teamwork, Siblings, Friendship, Coming of Age, Art, Birth, Memory, Childhood & Youth, Mothers, Family
Tags Relationships, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Grief, Love, Revenge, Coming of Age, Family, Friendship, Fate, Good & Evil, Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Social Class, Grief & Death, Love & Sexuality, Relationships
Heartless, first published in 2016, is a contemporary fantasy Young Adult novel by Marissa Meyer. Meyer is best known for her dystopian sci-fi YA series The Lunar Chronicles, inspired by fairy tales such as Cinderella and Snow White. Set in a fantasy world, Heartless imagines the backstory of Lewis Carroll’s iconic character the Queen of Hearts from the 1876 novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Heartless is also popular among the BookTok community. This guide utilizes... Read Heartless Summary