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.

Running Out Of Time

by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Publication year 1995

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Perseverance, The Past, Safety & Danger

Tags Science Fiction, Action & Adventure, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction

Running Out of Time is a 1995 young adult suspense novel by American author Margaret Peterson Haddix. It tells the story of Jessie Keyser, a young girl who believes she is living in 1800s Indiana, only to discover that in reality it is 1996. When a diphtheria epidemic strikes her small town of Clifton, she must venture out into the modern world to save her friends. Haddix also authored the critically acclaimed YA thriller series... Read Running Out Of Time Summary

Running With Scissors

by Augusten Burroughs

Publication year 2002

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Family, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Sexual Identity, Perseverance

Tags LGBTQ+, Mental Illness, Humor, Psychology, Psychology, Biography

Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs was first published in 2002 as a memoir. After several of the figures it features sued for defamation and dishonesty of its claims, however, it was recategorized as a book. It can also be classified as a bildungsroman since it follows the adolescent growth of its narrator and protagonist. Running with Scissors was adapted into a feature film in 2006.Other works by this author include Dry and A Wolf... Read Running With Scissors Summary

Runt

by Marion Dane Bauer

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Coming of Age, Death, Environment, Family, Fathers, Self Discovery, Power & Greed

Tags Animals, Action & Adventure, Fantasy

... Read Runt Summary

Sailor Moon

by Naoko Takeuchi

Publication year 1997

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Friendship, Religion & Spirituality, Science & Technology

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction, Japanese Literature

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Vol. 1 by Naoko Takeuchi, translated from the original Japanese by Alethea and Athena Nibley, is the first volume in the extensive Sailor Moon manga series. A 1990s cultural juggernaut, Sailor Moon is one of the most popular shōjo, or serial manga aimed at girls and young women, of all time. Additionally, it features a female superhero protagonist, a global rarity in the 1990s. It tells a story about a girl... Read Sailor Moon Summary

Saving Shiloh

by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Animals, Justice, Family, Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Forgiveness, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Community

Tags Realistic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Relationships

... Read Saving Shiloh Summary

Schooled

by Paul Langan

Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Hope, Shame & Pride, Disability, Masculinity, Race, Coming of Age, Place, Family, Self Discovery, Social Class, Education, Literature

Tags Realistic Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Children`s Literature

... Read Schooled Summary

School Trip

by Jerry Craft

Publication year 2023

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Race, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Social Class

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

... Read School Trip Summary

Secret Coders

by Gene Luen Yang

Publication year 2015

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Science & Technology, Perseverance, Loneliness, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Appearance & Reality, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Mothers, Self Discovery

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Science Fiction

... Read Secret Coders Summary

Serafina and the Black Cloak

by Robert Beatty

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Coming of Age, Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Coming of Age, Animals, Children`s Literature, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure

Serafina and the Black Cloak is a middle-grade mystery/fantasy by Robert Beatty. First published in 2015, the novel is set in 1899 at the historic Biltmore Estate near Asheville, North Carolina. The story features 12-year-old Serafina, a girl of mysterious origins and many unusual skills who lives secretly in the mansion’s basement. When some of the Biltmore guests’ children go missing, Serafina discovers that an evil intruder—the Man in the Black Cloak—is responsible. Serafina sets... Read Serafina and the Black Cloak Summary

Sexy

by Jhumpa Lahiri

Publication year 1998

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Self Discovery, Loyalty & Betrayal, Coming of Age

Tags Relationships, Indian Literature

... Read Sexy Summary

Shades of Gray

by Carolyn Reeder

Publication year 1989

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery, Family, Shame & Pride, Hate & Anger, War, Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, American Civil War, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, US History, Military & War, World History

... Read Shades of Gray Summary

Sheep

by Valerie Hobbs

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Memory, Coming of Age, Animals, Self Discovery, Trust & Doubt

Tags Realistic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Animals, Children`s Literature, Fantasy

... Read Sheep Summary

She's Come Undone

by Wally Lamb

Publication year 1992

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Coming of Age, Family, Power & Greed

Tags Coming of Age, Dramatic Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness

She’s Come Undone is a realistic fiction novel written by Wally Lamb and originally published in 1992. Lamb demonstrates his penchant for creating detailed psychological character portraits in his debut novel, which is a coming-of-age story about a woman named Dolores Price. As the novel traces Dolores’s life from childhood through middle age in the mid-20th century, Lamb examines imbalanced power dynamics within relationships, intergenerational trauma and healing, the loss of innocence, and body image... Read She's Come Undone Summary

Shiloh

by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Publication year 1991

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Animals, Justice, Truth & Lies, Coming of Age

Tags Children`s Literature, Coming of Age, Realism, Education, Education, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Classic Fiction

Eleven-year-old Marty Preston fights to save an abused beagle from its cruel owner in Shiloh (1991). Marty bonds with the dog, Shiloh, and learns more about himself and others as he struggles to reconcile the letter of the law with what he knows in his heart is right. Acclaimed children’s author Phyllis Reynolds Naylor based Shiloh on a poignant, personal encounter with a mistreated dog. Marty’s character struggles with the same issues that troubled Naylor... Read Shiloh Summary