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.

Pie

by Sarah Weeks

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Perseverance, Gratitude, Grief, Love, Coming of Age, Daughters & Sons, Friendship, Mothers, Community, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Food, Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction

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Piecing Me Together

by Renée Watson

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Race & Racism, Modern Classic Fiction

Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson is a young adult novel published in 2017. In 2018, it won the Coretta Scott King Award from the American Library Award Association and was named a Newbery Honor Book by the Association for Library Service to Children. The novel comprises 76 chapters, each of which is given a bilingual title in English and Spanish. For example, Chapter 1 is titled “español - Spanish language,” and Chapter 2 is... Read Piecing Me Together Summary

Plum Bun

by Jessie Redmon Fauset

Publication year 1928

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, Gender Identity, Coming of Age

Tags Harlem Renaissance, Classic Fiction, Coming of Age, Race & Racism, Gender & Feminism, Arts & Culture, African American Literature, Women`s Studies, American Literature, Historical Fiction

Jessie Redmon Fauset’s Plum Bun: A Novel Without a Moral recounts the story of a young Black woman in the 1920s who decides to pass as white. Ostensibly a coming-of-age story, the novel features a complex treatment of racial barriers and gender inequalities. While the trajectory of the novel is straightforward and relatively typical for the bildungsroman—young woman leaves home, discovers herself through a series of obstacles she must overcome, and finally learns how to... Read Plum Bun Summary

Pony

by R. J. Palacio

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Death, The Past, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Family, Colonialism, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Children`s Literature, World History, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Animals, Action & Adventure

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Pop

by Gordon Korman

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

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Portrait of a Lady

by T. S. Eliot

Publication year 1915

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Truth & Lies, Music, Coming of Age, Midlife

Tags Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Narrative Poem, Modernism, British Literature, American Literature, Relationships, Love & Sexuality, Social Class, Classic Fiction

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Prairie Lotus

by Linda Sue Park

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Friendship, Coming of Age, Community, Race, Fathers, Daughters & Sons, Perseverance, Mothers

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Race & Racism, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, World History, Arts & Culture

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Prayers for the Stolen

by Jennifer Clement

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Gender Identity, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Femininity, Hope, Fear, Safety & Danger, Sexual Identity

Tags Latin American Literature, Coming of Age, Trauma & Abuse, Women`s Studies, Gender & Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction

Prayers for the Stolen is a 2012 coming-of-age novel by American Mexican author Jennifer Clement, who resides in Mexico City. Clement formerly served as president of PEN Mexico, part of a worldwide association of playwrights, poets, editors, essayists, and novelists that advocates for freedom of expression. Clement took up this role at a time when Mexico was among the most dangerous countries in the world in which to work in journalism. The narrator and protagonist... Read Prayers for the Stolen Summary

Pretty Little Liars

by Sara Shepard

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Loyalty & Betrayal, Community, Safety & Danger, Revenge, Memory, Guilt, The Past, Shame & Pride, Fear, Trust & Doubt, Grief, Coming of Age, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Coming of Age, Horror & Suspense

Pretty Little Liars is a young adult fiction novel written by Sara Shepard. It is the first book in the Pretty Little Liars series, which features 16 books, along with seven companion novels. The highly successful series was featured on The New York Times best-seller list and adapted into a television show in 2010. The popular show lasted seven seasons and aired on the Freeform Network. Although Shepard had only written eight books in the... Read Pretty Little Liars Summary

P.S. Be Eleven

by Rita Williams-Garcia

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Gender Identity, Race, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Friendship, Politics & Government, War, Justice, Self Discovery

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Race & Racism, Children`s Literature, World History

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Queen of Shadows

by Sarah J. Maas

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Guilt, Love, Femininity, Race, Coming of Age, Nature Versus Nurture, Place, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Colonialism, War, Good & Evil, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed

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

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Quicksilver

by Callie Hart

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Death, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Love, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Climate, Objects & Materials, Place, Marriage, Politics & Government, War, Fate, Good & Evil, Wins & Losses

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Trauma & Abuse

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Quiet Power

by Susan Cain

Publication year 2012

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Friendship, Self Discovery, Education

Tags Psychology, Self-Improvement, Sociology, Business & Economics, Leadership

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Rain Reign

by Ann M. Martin

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Disability, Family, Coming of Age

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Animals, Disability, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

Rain Reign is a work of middle-grade contemporary fiction written by American author Ann M. Martin and published in 2014. The novel was chosen for the 2014 New York Times Notable Children’s Books list. Martin is the original author of the best-selling Baby-Sitters Club series of books and has written over 100 books for young readers. She has received numerous awards over the course of her career, including the Newbery Medal in 2013 and a... Read Rain Reign Summary

Ramona Quimby Age 8

by Beverly Cleary

Publication year 1981

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Coming of Age

Tags Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Coming of Age

Ramona Quimby, Age 8, (1981) is the sixth book in Beverly Cleary’s middle-grade Ramona series. It follows spirited and curious Ramona as she balances her excitement about entering the third grade with her trepidation over the Quimby family’s financial struggles. Through her misadventures, Ramona learns her place in the family and how to stand up for herself at school using determination and creativity.Known for realistic fiction, Cleary organizes the novel in a series of loosely... Read Ramona Quimby Age 8 Summary

Raybearer

by Jordan Ifueko

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Appearance & Reality, Daughters & Sons, Friendship, Politics & Government, Justice

Tags Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ+

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Raymie Nightingale

by Kate DiCamillo

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Coming of Age, Family, Loyalty & Betrayal

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

Raymie Nightingale is a 2016 middle grade novel by two-time Newbery Medal winner Kate DiCamillo. The novel was a National Book Award finalist in the year of its publication. Set in Florida in the summer of 1975, it tells the story of 10-year-old Raymie Clark as she copes with loss and forms a deep friendship that helps her and her new friends in unexpected ways.Plot SummaryRaymie Clark is determined to win the Little Miss Central... Read Raymie Nightingale Summary