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.

The Brooklyn Nine

by Alan Gratz

Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Guilt, Hope, Loneliness, Memory, Daughters & Sons, Friendship, Grandparents, Fathers, Mothers, Teamwork, Disability, Indigenous Identity, Gender Identity, Race, Immigration, Social Class, Community, Education, War, Nation, Self Discovery, Politics & Government, Place, Equality, Fate, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Wins & Losses, Truth & Lies, Aging, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, The Past, Midlife, Death

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Sports, Realistic Fiction, World History

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The Bully

by Paul Langan

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Loneliness, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Coming of Age, Place, Fathers, Self Discovery, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Sports, Urban Development, Dramatic Literature

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The Burning Bridge

by John Flanagan

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Loyalty & Betrayal, Friendship, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Death, Appearance & Reality, Teamwork, Self Discovery, War, Good & Evil, Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure

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The Butterfly Lion

by Michael Morpurgo

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Coming of Age, Death, Animals, Friendship, War, Loyalty & Betrayal

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

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The Caretaker

by Ron Rash

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes War, Family, Power & Greed, Grief, Loneliness, Love, Disability, Coming of Age, Death, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Southern Literature, Southern Gothic, Korean War

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The Castle in the Attic

by Elizabeth Winthrop

Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Forgiveness, Grief, Guilt, Hope, Joy, Love, Loneliness, Regret, Shame & Pride, Family, Friendship, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Good & Evil, Fate, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Classic Fiction

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The Catcher in the Rye

by J. D. Salinger

Publication year 1951

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Nature Versus Nurture

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Coming of Age, American Literature, Depression & Suicide, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, published in 1951, is an American classic widely heralded as one of the best novels of the 20th century. This coming-of-age novel captures the alienation that teenagers experienced in the years following World War II, and its popularity as an assigned text in US schools has led to its enduring relevance in American literature (and notoriety, as it frequently faced challenges or censorship from concerned parents).Content Warning: This... Read The Catcher in the Rye Summary

The Cat Who Saved Books

by Sōsuke Natsukawa, Transl. Louise Heal Kawai

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Animals, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Joy, Loneliness, Love, Memory, Coming of Age, Death, Future, The Past, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Grandparents, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Community, Economics, Education, Art, Beauty, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Literature, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Science & Technology, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Japanese Literature, Contemporary Literature

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The Cay

by Theodore Taylor

Publication year 1969

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race, War, Coming of Age, Perseverance

Tags Action & Adventure, Historical Fiction, Survival Fiction, Race & Racism, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

The Cay is a 1969 middle grade novel by American author Theodore Taylor. The story follows an 11-year-old boy named Phillip who must survive on a small Caribbean island with an older Black man named Timothy. The novel is a survival story, but it is also about unlearning racism; Taylor dedicated the book to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Cay received several literary awards, including the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award in 1970, which... Read The Cay Summary

The Chocolate War

by Robert Cormier

Publication year 1974

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Hate & Anger, Masculinity, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Education, Good & Evil, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Bullying, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, first published in 1974, is a novel that delves into the dark aspects of adolescence, authority, and conformity. Set in an all-boys Catholic high school called Trinity, the story centers around Jerry Renault, a freshman who defies the school’s two most powerful forces–the secret student group known as the Vigils, and acting Headmaster Brother Leon–by refusing to participate in the annual chocolate sale. Jerry’s act of defiance exposes the... Read The Chocolate War Summary

The Chosen

by Chaim Potok

Publication year 1967

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Fathers, Community, Coming of Age, Hate & Anger, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Jewish Literature, Education, Education

Rabbi Chaim Potok published The Chosen in 1967, and the book became a National Book Award finalist and established Potok as an influential Jewish writer. Born in Brooklyn and raised by Hasidic parents, Potok’s historical novel arguably links to parts of his personal life, as it follows two Jewish best friends, Reuven and Danny, and emphasizes Danny’s rocky relationship with his Hasidic father. The book centers on themes like Judaism and the Quest for Knowledge... Read The Chosen Summary

The Chrysalids

by John Wyndham

Publication year 1955

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Community, War, Fear

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Symbolic Narrative, Cold War, Post-War Era, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

The Chrysalids is a young-adult science fiction novel, written by John Wyndham and first published in 1955. Wyndham was a renowned science fiction author of the post-World War II era, and many of his works are thus inspired by a potential nuclear apocalypse. The Chrysalids was well-received by critics and is considered one of Wyndham’s best novels. It was adapted into a BBC radio play in 1982 and a play in 1999.This guide utilizes the... Read The Chrysalids Summary

The Cider House Rules

by John Irving

Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Love, Fathers, Religion & Spirituality, Good & Evil

Tags Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Coming of Age, US History, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, World History

The Cider House Rules is the sixth novel by the American Canadian author John Irving. It was published in 1985 by William Morrow and Company. The novel was made into a movie directed by Lasse Hallstrom in 1999. Other works by this author include Avenue of Mysteries, A Son of the Circus, and Until I Find You.This guide uses the 2012 William Morrow Kindle Edition of The Cider House Rules.Plot SummaryThe Cider House Rules is... Read The Cider House Rules Summary

The Clan of the Cave Bear

by Jean M. Auel

Publication year 1980

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Femininity, Coming of Age, The Past, Community

Tags Fantasy, Relationships, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure

The Clan of the Cave Bear (1980) is a historical fiction novel by Jean M. Auel and the first book in her Earth’s Children series. Set in Paleolithic Europe, the book follows Ayla, a Cro-Magnon girl who is orphaned during a catastrophic earthquake and adopted by a band of Neanderthals known as the “Clan.” As she grows up, her quick learning and independent streak clash with Clan traditions and an ambitious young hunter who resents... Read The Clan of the Cave Bear Summary

The Cloven Viscount

by Italo Calvino

Publication year 1952

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Community, Good & Evil

Tags Classic Fiction, Fantasy

The Cloven Viscount (1951) is a fantastical novella by Italian author Italo Calvino. Originally published as Il visconte dimezzato by Giulio Einaudi Editore in Turin, the work represents Calvino’s early exploration of allegorical storytelling, which would later define much of his career. The novella tells the story of Viscount Medardo of Terralba, who is literally split in half by a cannonball during a war against the Turks, with each half embodying extreme moral qualities that... Read The Cloven Viscount Summary

The Cost of Knowing

by Brittney Morris

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Siblings, Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Gratitude, Grief, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Joy, Love, Memory, Regret, Shame & Pride, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Future, The Past, Fathers, Equality, Fate, Justice, Safety & Danger, Music, Appearance & Reality

Tags Magical Realism, Coming of Age, Race & Racism, Science Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness, Fantasy

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The Courage of Sarah Noble

by Alice Dalgliesh

Publication year 1954

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Indigenous Identity, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Daughters & Sons, Fathers, Mothers, Self Discovery, Safety & Danger

Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, American Literature, Education, Education, US History, World History

The Courage of Sarah Noble, written by Alice Dalgliesh and published in 1954, follows the experience of young Sarah as she accompanies her father to Connecticut. It is based on a true story that took place in 1707, though Dalgliesh admits in the “Author’s Note” that she has “had to imagine many of the details” of Sarah’s story; thus, this is a work of historical fiction and not a biography or nonfiction text.Dalgliesh was a... Read The Courage of Sarah Noble Summary

The Darkest Child

by Delores Phillips

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Hate & Anger, Hope, Revenge, Mental Health, Race, Sexual Identity, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Daughters & Sons, Family, Mothers, Social Class, Politics & Government, Equality, Justice, Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Southern Literature, Race & Racism, African American Literature, World History

The Darkest Child (2004) is a coming-of-age historical fiction novel by Delores Phillips. The teenage protagonist and first-person narrator, Tangy Mae Quinn faces racism and segregation in the Jim Crow South, as well as domestic abuse, poverty, and nonconsensual sex work. Despite these challenges, Tangy finds eventual escape when she leaves her abusive mother, Rozelle, and her past behind her to pursue her own goals, which are rooted in education. The novel explores The Role... Read The Darkest Child Summary