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.

Bee Season

by Myla Goldberg

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Religion & Spirituality, Coming of Age, Loneliness, Mental Health, Order & Chaos

Tags Jewish Literature

Myla Goldberg’s debut novel, Bee Season (2000), is a work of literary fiction that chronicles the intellectual and spiritual awakening of an ordinary girl and the subsequent unraveling of her family. Eleven-year-old Eliza Naumann, long overlooked by her parents and teachers, discovers a previously unrecognized ability. Her unexpected success in a series of spelling bees draws the intense attention of her father, Saul, a scholar of Jewish mysticism who comes to interpret her gift as... Read Bee Season Summary

Being Henry David

by Cal Armistead

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Forgiveness, Loneliness, Regret, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Environment, Place, Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Literature, Music, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Action & Adventure

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Belladonna

by Adalyn Grace

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Femininity, Coming of Age, Death, The Past, Self Discovery

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Gothic Literature, Religion & Spirituality

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Be More Chill

by Ned Vizzini

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Appearance & Reality, Friendship, Truth & Lies, Science & Technology

Tags Science Fiction, Humor, Romance, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy

Be More Chill (2004) by Ned Vizzini is a young adult novel about a teenage boy trying to increase his social status in high school. The work employs humor and a science fiction premise to satirize the absurdity of social norms in contemporary youth culture. The main character, Jeremy Heere, is a socially awkward high school student who ingests a pill that contains a quantum supercomputer that advises him on how to modify his behavior... Read Be More Chill Summary

Be Prepared

by Vera Brosgol

Publication year 2018

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Friendship, Loneliness, Childhood & Youth, Self Discovery, Social Class, Immigration, Religion & Spirituality, Coming of Age

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

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Betty

by Tiffany McDaniel

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Indigenous Identity, Family, Grief, Hope, Hate & Anger, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Race, Coming of Age, Environment, Mothers, Siblings, Good & Evil, Justice

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Trauma & Abuse

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Beyond That, the Sea

by Laura Spence-Ash

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Love, Truth & Lies, Conflict, Nostalgia, Self Discovery, Mothers, Daughters & Sons, Siblings, Friendship, Memory, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Hope

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Romance, World War II, Social Class, Education, Finance, Love & Sexuality, Relationships, Military & War, Grief & Death, World History, Parenting

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Big Red

by Jim Kjelgaard

Publication year 1945

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Perseverance, Animals, Place, Friendship

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

Jim Kjelgaard’s novel Big Red (1945) traces the adventures of protagonist Danny Pickett after he befriends a unique Irish setter named Red. Danny has lived at the edge of the Wintapi wilderness with his father, Ross Pickett, for as long as he can remember. Although he loves his father, their life together, and the surrounding woods, Danny longs for a friend. Danny is thrilled when Mr. Haggin, the Pickett’s property owner and boss, hires Danny... Read Big Red Summary

Big Summer

by Jennifer Weiner

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Revenge, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Memory, Shame & Pride, Forgiveness, Perseverance, Conflict, Hope

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

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Binding 13

by Chloe Walsh

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Loneliness, Love, Gender Identity, Masculinity, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Family, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class

Tags Romance, Sports, New Adult, Modern Classic Fiction, Trauma & Abuse

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