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.

Swing Time

by Zadie Smith

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Shame & Pride, Femininity, Coming of Age, Childhood & Youth, Mothers, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Art, Beauty, Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Music, Realistic Fiction, British Literature, Arts & Culture, Social Class, Finance, Gender & Feminism, History: African , European History, Love & Sexuality, Race & Racism, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction

Swing Time (2016) is renowned author Zadie Smith’s fifth novel. Inspired by classic movie musicals and Smith’s childhood passion for musical theater, Swing Time is a story about women, how forms of privilege warp our worldviews, and the ways in which history informs our present. The novel is divided into seven parts, each narrated by the same unnamed protagonist sometimes as a child and sometimes as an adult.One of the most respected literary voices of... Read Swing Time Summary

Symptoms of Being Human

by Jeff Garvin

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Safety & Danger

Tags Realistic Fiction, Bullying, LGBTQ+, Depression & Suicide, Relationships, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness

Published in 2016, the young adult novel Symptoms of Being Human by musician and author Jeff Garvin focuses on the coming of age of gender-fluid teenager Riley. In addition to other awards, the book was a Lambda Literary Award Finalist, was included on the 2017 Rainbow Book List, and was named the Nutmeg Book Award Winner.Note: Out of respect for the main character’s gender fluidity, Riley Cavanaugh is referred to with the singular pronouns they/them/theirs.Plot... Read Symptoms of Being Human Summary

Taming 7

by Chloe Walsh

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Guilt, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Friendship, Safety & Danger

Tags Romance, Sports, New Adult

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Tangerine

by Edward Bloor

Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Coming of Age, Friendship, Teamwork

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Coming of Age, Dramatic Literature, Sports, Gothic Literature, Natural Disaster, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

In Edward Bloor’s 1997 debut novel, Tangerine, Paul Fisher navigates the treacherous waters of attending middle school in a new town. In this young adult novel, the coming-of-age tale is complicated by the mystery of why Paul lost so much of his sight—the apocryphal story is that he looked at an eclipse too long—and by the presence of his violent older brother, Erik.Included in the ALA Top Ten Best Books of the Year, Tangerine teams... Read Tangerine Summary

Tasting the Sky

by Ibtisam Barakat

Publication year 2007

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Coming of Age, War, Gender Identity, Childhood & Youth, Language, Literature, Family

Tags Middle Eastern History, Military & War, Education, Education, World History, Arts & Culture, Biography

In her memoir, Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood (2007), Palestinian-American author and poet Ibtisam Barakat describes her early childhood in Palestine during the Six-Day War of 1967 and the life-changing effects that follow this pivotal event. Combining richly descriptive prose and free-verse poetry, Ibtisam shares often painful memories of childhood losses, from her home and sense of security to her childhood innocence. Writing from a child’s perspective, Ibtisam transcends politics to poignantly highlight how... Read Tasting the Sky Summary

Teacher Man

by Frank McCourt

Publication year 2005

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Coming of Age

Tags Education, Irish Literature, Education, Biography

Teacher Man: A Memoir is a 2005 nonfiction book by Frank McCourt. It is the third and final memoir in a series by McCourt, the first being the Pulitzer Prize–winning Angela’s Ashes (about McCourt’s childhood and teen years in Ireland) published in 1996, and the second being ’Tis (about his life after immigrating to America at age 19), published in 1999. Teacher Man focuses on McCourt’s decades-long teaching career in various New York City schools... Read Teacher Man Summary

Tell Me Lies

by Carola Lovering

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Forgiveness, Love, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Mothers, Self Discovery, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Romance, Coming of Age

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Tender at the Bone

by Ruth Reichl

Publication year 1998

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Memory, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Race, Coming of Age, Food, Marriage, Mothers, Self Discovery, Social Class, Fame

Tags Food, Relationships

Prominent chef, food writer, and editor Ruth Reichl’s 1998 memoir Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table incorporates recipes with narrative and commentary to create a portrait of Reichl’s coming of age. Reichl’s sometimes-chaotic childhood with a mother who had untreated bipolar disorder made her into an independent and rebellious young person determined to distance herself from her parents’ world. Her adolescence and young adulthood in New York; Montreal; Berkeley, California; and Ann... Read Tender at the Bone Summary

Ten Indians

by Ernest Hemingway

Publication year 1927

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Place, Race, Hate & Anger, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Nation, Equality

Tags American Literature, Race & Racism, Classic Fiction

“Ten Indians” by American author Ernest Hemingway was first published in his second short story collection, Men Without Women (1927). The story follows Nick Adams, a recurring protagonist in Hemingway’s work who shares traits and backstory with the author. These stories, including “Ten Indians,” were later collected in the anthology The Nick Adams Stories.The title references an 1864 children’s rhyming and counting song, “Ten Little Indians,” composed by Septimus Winner. It was subsequently adapted as... Read Ten Indians Summary

Tex

by S. E. Hinton

Publication year 1979

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Siblings, Coming of Age, Fathers, Childhood & Youth, Family, Friendship, Social Class

Tags Realistic Fiction, Relationships, Animals

In small town Oklahoma during the 1970s, a rough-and-tumble teenager learns to navigate the world with his older brother and a mostly absent father in S. E. Hinton’s young adult fiction novel Tex. Published in 1979, the book was subsequently made into a popular movie starring young Matt Dillon in the title role. Hinton herself has written that Texas McCormick is the favorite of all her iconic characters, so good natured and even tempered that... Read Tex Summary

That's Not What Happened

by Kody Keplinger

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Guilt, Grief, Self Discovery, Religion & Spirituality, Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Regret, Coming of Age, Death, Education, Politics & Government, Justice, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, LGBTQ+

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The 100

by Kass Morgan

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Space, Coming of Age, Future, The Past, Environment, Family, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Justice

Tags Science Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Action & Adventure

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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

by Mark Twain

Publication year 1884

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Good & Evil, Equality, Coming of Age

Tags Action & Adventure, American Literature, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was published in 1884 as a companion to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, written in 1876, and is regarded as an American classic. While the story of Tom Sawyer is lighthearted and adventurous in the style of juvenile fiction of its day, Huck Finn’s adventure is darker and more satirical. Huckleberry Finn often finds himself in physical danger, yet the greatest danger he faces are threats to... Read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Summary