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.

Brian's Hunt

by Gary Paulsen

Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Animals, Environment, Safety & Danger

Tags Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Survival Fiction, Realistic Fiction

Brian’s Hunt (2003) by Gary Paulsen is the fifth and final book in the middle grade coming-of-age survival series, Brian’s Saga. It is preceded by Hatchet, The River, Brian’s Winter, and Brian’s Return. In Brian’s Hunt, Brian returns to the woods two years after his first wilderness survival experience. Paulsen, an experienced outdoorsman, highlights Brian’s preference for a simple life in nature over the hustle of the civilized world. The novel is praised for its... Read Brian's Hunt Summary

Brian's Winter

by Gary Paulsen

Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Beauty, Environment, Coming of Age

Tags Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Animals, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

Brian’s Winter (1996), a young adult novel by Gary Paulsen, is the third book in the Hatchet series of survival stories. Brian’s Winter chronologically follows Hatchet, acting as an alternate ending to Hatchet in which Brian is not rescued, and must continue to survive in the woods through the winter. Paulsen uses his own firsthand knowledge of winter survival skills to create a vivid and realistic portrayal of winter in the Canadian woods.Other works by... Read Brian's Winter Summary

Bridge to Terabithia

by Katherine Paterson

Publication year 1977

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Coming of Age, Family, Childhood & Youth, Masculinity, Fear, Grief

Tags Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Grief & Death, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Poverty

Bridge to Terabithia is a 1977 children’s novel written by Katherine Paterson. Paterson is best-known for her children’s books, two of which earned Newbery Medals: Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved (1981). She was inspire to write Bridge to Terabithia after her son’s best friend was killed by lightning. It has since become a classic, beloved by readers for its exploration of themes like Finding Connection as an Outsider, The Stages of Grief... Read Bridge to Terabithia Summary

Brighton Beach Memoirs

by Neil Simon

Publication year 1984

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Family, Fathers, Siblings

Tags Drama, Comedy & Satire, Life-Inspired Fiction, Love & Sexuality, Great Depression, World War II, Poverty, Relationships, Religion & Spirituality, Education, Education, American Literature, Dramatic Literature, Humor, Classic Fiction

Brighton Beach Memoirs is a semi-autobiographical play by American playwright Neil Simon. It is the first play in Simon’s Eugene Trilogy and follows its young protagonist as he grapples with adolescence and identity in the midst of the Great Depression. Its initial 1983 Broadway run enjoyed critical acclaim and won several awards. Most notably, actor Matthew Broderick won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for originating the role of Eugene. Despite its initial success... Read Brighton Beach Memoirs Summary

Broken Bonds

by J Bree

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Hate & Anger, Loneliness, Love, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Education, War, Fate, Loyalty & Betrayal, Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance

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Brooklyn

by Colm Tóibín

Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Coming of Age, Immigration, Nostalgia, Family

Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, Irish Literature, American Literature, World History

Brooklyn is a 2009 historical fiction novel written by Colm Tóibín. The book follows Eilis Lacey as she emigrates from Ireland to Brooklyn in the 1950s, finding a job in a department store and falling in love with a young Italian man named Tony. Despite her new life in Brooklyn, Eilis makes a return to Enniscorthy, the same town Colm Tóibín was born and raised in, when her older sister Rose dies. While there, she... Read Brooklyn Summary

Brothers

by Alex Van Halen

Publication year 2024

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Love, Memory, Language, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Siblings, Teamwork, Fame, Loyalty & Betrayal, Music

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Brown Girl, Brownstones

by Paule Marshall

Publication year 1959

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Race & Racism, World History, Classic Fiction

Published in 1959, Brown Girl, Brownstones is American novelist Paule Marshall’s debut novel. Loosely based on the early events of Marshall’s life, the story explores Selina Boyce’s coming of age. Selina is the daughter of Deighton and Silla Boyce, Barbadian immigrants living in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s.Marshall structures the historical fiction narrative in four parts. In the first, 10-year-old Selina plays in the Brooklyn brownstone where her family lives and listens... Read Brown Girl, Brownstones Summary

Brownies

by ZZ Packer

Publication year 2003

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age

Tags Realistic Fiction, Education, Education

“Brownies” is the first story in ZZ Packer’s debut collection, Drinking Coffee Elsewhere. The story is set at Camp Crescendo, a summer camp in the American South, in the 1980s. “Brownies” is narrated by “Snot,” a member of the black Brownie troop attending Camp Crescendo. The narrator’s real name is Laurel.The story’s plot concerns whether a girl in another Brownie troop at Camp Crescendo, an all-white troop known as Troop 909, has called one of... Read Brownies Summary

Bruiser

by Neal Shusterman

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Family, Coming of Age, Marriage, Siblings, Self Discovery

Tags Fantasy, Trauma & Abuse, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Religion & Spirituality

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman, first published in 2010, is a young adult novel. It explores the life of Brewster “Bruiser” Rawlins, a high school student who has the ability to take pain away from those he cares about. Through his supernatural ability, the novel explores themes of Finding Emotional Balance, The Complications of Empathy, and The Dangers of Excessive Dependence on Others. Shusterman is the author of dozens of young adult novels, short stories, and works... Read Bruiser Summary

Bully

by Penelope Douglas

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Hate & Anger, Love, Revenge, Coming of Age, The Past, Fathers, Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt

Tags Bullying, New Adult

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Butcher's Crossing

by John Edward Williams

Publication year 1960

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Nature Versus Nurture, Conflict, Perseverance, Fear, Hope, Loneliness, Memory, Indigenous Identity, Masculinity, Coming of Age, Death, Animals, Appearance & Reality, Environment, Food, Place, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Economics, Globalization, Nation, Beauty, Fate, Good & Evil, Justice, Literature, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses

Tags Western, American Literature, Historical Fiction

Published in 1960, Butcher’s Crossing is a revisionist Western novel by American author John Williams. The book follows a young Harvard dropout who ventures into the Kansas wilderness in the 1870s on a buffalo-hunting expedition, confronting the brutal realities of the American frontier and the destruction of the natural world. The novel explores themes that include The Deconstruction of the American Frontier Myth, Human Arrogance Versus Nature’s Indifference, and Disillusionment and the Loss of Idealism.Williams... Read Butcher's Crossing Summary

Call it Courage

by Armstrong Sperry

Publication year 1940

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Coming of Age, Community

Tags Classic Fiction, Action & Adventure, Coming of Age, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Education, Animals, Relationships, Religion & Spirituality, American Literature, Children`s Literature, Education, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction

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Canyons

by Gary Paulsen

Publication year 1990

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Indigenous Identity, Race, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Death, Colonialism, Nation, Equality, Justice, Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery

Tags Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Survival Fiction, Children`s Literature

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Captive Prince

by C. S. Pacat

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hate & Anger, Revenge, Shame & Pride, Masculinity, Sexual Identity, Coming of Age, Future, The Past, Family, Friendship, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Nation, Politics & Government, War, Beauty, Fate, Justice, Loyalty & Betrayal, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Wins & Losses, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies

Tags Fantasy, Love & Sexuality, Romance

... Read Captive Prince Summary