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.

Henry V

by William Shakespeare

Publication year 1599

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Nation, Coming of Age, War

Tags Classic Fiction, British Literature, Historical Fiction, Drama, Education, Education, World History, Dramatic Literature

Henry V is a play by English playwright William Shakespeare, believed to have premiered in 1599. It is best preserved in the 1623 publication of Shakespeare’s work known as the First Folio. Shakespeare’s surviving work includes 10 history plays focusing on the history and kings of England 1399-1485 and based on actual events. Henry V is the fifth of these chronologically and focuses on King Henry V of England, specifically on the events surrounding the... Read Henry V Summary

Her Soul for Revenge

by Harley Laroux

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Love, Memory, Revenge, Coming of Age, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Place, Family, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Horror & Suspense

... Read Her Soul for Revenge Summary

History of Wolves

by Emily Fridlund

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age

Tags Modern Classic Fiction

Emily Fridlund’s 2017 debut novel, History of Wolves, blends the genres of thriller and bildungsroman to tell the story of a teen’s coming of age through the life altering events that follow her taking up a babysitting position for her new neighbors. The novel, a finalist for the Man Booker Prize, examines guilt, trauma, obsession, and the responsibility of the onlooker through the emotionally evasive protagonist as she attempts to navigate the adult world. This... Read History of Wolves Summary

Hitler's Daughter

by Jackie French

Publication year 1999

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Nation, War, Good & Evil, Justice, Safety & Danger

Tags Military & War, World History, Christian

Hitler’s Daughter is a historical fiction middle-grade novel written by Jackie French. It is part of the Hitler trilogy and was originally published in 1999. Jackie French is an Australian author, environmental activist, and historian, and her books have won over 60 awards internationally. Hitler’s Daughter was named a Blue Ribbon Book and a Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year for Younger Readers. It was also adapted into a play. The... Read Hitler's Daughter Summary

Homeless Bird

by Gloria Whelan

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hope, Memory, Shame & Pride, Femininity, Coming of Age, Animals, Plants, Family, Friendship, Marriage, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Economics, Education, Nation, Politics & Government, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Coming of Age, Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, World History, Indian Literature

Homeless Bird, a novel written by Gloria Whelan and published in 2000, was a New York Times Best Seller and winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Marketed to middle grade readers, the novel has elements of historical fiction in its portrayal of cultural customs in India. Homeless Bird tells the story of Koly, a 13-year-old girl whose arranged marriage leads to her untimely widowhood. Through Koly’s coming-of-age journey from helplessness to... Read Homeless Bird Summary

Home of the Brave

by Katherine Applegate

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Family, Friendship, Coming of Age

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Historical Fiction, Arts & Culture

Home of the Brave is a 2008 juvenile novel by Katherine Applegate that is written entirely in free verse. The story revolves around the protagonist, a young boy named Kek, who has fled from violence and upheaval in his native Sudan and traveled alone to the United States. Kek’s father and older brother were killed in an attack on their camp, and Kek was forced to leave his mother behind to save his own life... Read Home of the Brave Summary

Hoops

by Walter Dean Myers

Publication year 1981

Genre Book, Fiction

Themes Race, Coming of Age, Fathers

Tags Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction, Sports, Race & Racism, Parenting, African American Literature, American Literature, Children`s Literature, Arts & Culture

... Read Hoops Summary

Hope Was Here

by Joan Bauer

Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Coming of Age

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

Hope Was Here (2000) by Joan Bauer tells the story of Hope Yancey, a witty and optimistic 16-year-old coping with the complexities of growing up amid financial difficulty, social upheaval, and change in her family. Hope has been raised by her Aunt Addie after her mother surrendered custody of her at birth. As Hope and Addie traverse the country chasing jobs and running diners, Hope grapples with her identity and figuring out where to call... Read Hope Was Here Summary

Hour of the Bees

by Lindsay Eagar

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Aging, Coming of Age, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Place, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Grandparents, Self Discovery, Community, Fate, Truth & Lies

Tags Magical Realism, Fantasy, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Published in 2016, Hour of the Bees is a young adult magical realism novel by Lindsay Eagar. Set in contemporary New Mexico, the story follows 12-year-old Carol as she spends the summer on her grandfather’s sheep ranch, helping her family prepare it for sale and helping care for her grandfather, who has dementia. However, her grandfather’s stories of the land’s magic and history cause her to fall in love with it. Hour of the Bees... Read Hour of the Bees Summary

House of Flame and Shadow

by Sarah J. Maas

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Love, Race, Coming of Age, Environment, Place, Teamwork, Colonialism, War, Equality, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action & Adventure, Fairy Tale & Folklore

... Read House of Flame and Shadow Summary

How Children Succeed

by Paul Tough

Publication year 2012

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Nature Versus Nurture, Mental Health, Race, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Daughters & Sons, Social Class, Education, Equality

Tags Education, Psychology, Parenting, Children`s Literature, Education, Science & Nature, Sociology, Psychology, Self-Improvement

... Read How Children Succeed Summary

How I Live Now

by Meg Rosoff

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, War, Fear, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Death, Family, Safety & Danger

Tags Science Fiction, Survival Fiction

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff was originally published in 2004. It is a young adult dystopian novel about an American teenager experiencing a near-future world war in England, and it won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and the Printz Award. In 2013, How I Live Now was adapted into a film directed by Kevin Macdonald and starring Saoirse Ronan. Rosoff also won a Carnegie Medal, a Whitbread Award, and other awards. How I... Read How I Live Now Summary

How I Met My Husband

by Alice Munro

Publication year 1974

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Love, Memory, Coming of Age

Tags Romance, Coming of Age, Social Class, Gender & Feminism, Love & Sexuality, Post-War Era, World History, Historical Fiction, Canadian Literature, Classic Fiction

“How I Met My Husband” is a short story by Alice Munro. It appeared in her 1974 collection Something I’ve Been Meaning To Tell You. Munro's other works include the collection Runaway (2003) and the novel Dear Life (2012). This guide is based on the Vintage eBook edition of the collection, published in 2014.Fifteen-year-old Edie comes of age in postwar rural Canada. She is from a large, farming family. When she fails high school, she... Read How I Met My Husband Summary

How to Be Both

by Ali Smith

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Art, Grief, Love, Memory, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Future, The Past, Self Discovery, Social Class, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+

How to be Both is a 2014 novel by Scottish author Ali Smith. The narrative explores common threads of grief, identity, and memory from the perspectives of recently bereaved 16-year-old English schoolgirl George and a character named Francescho, inspired by the real 15th-century Italian artist Francesco del Cossa. The book, exploring themes such as The Impact of Grief on Personality, Ambiguity as an Inescapable Feature of Life, and Everyday Resistance to Injustice, was a critical... Read How to Be Both Summary