The Journey

We curated this study guide collection of coming-of-age stories to highlight young protagonists navigating political turmoil, war, and the hope of finding a new home.

90 Miles to Havana

by Enrique Flores-Galbis

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, World History, Action & Adventure, Arts & Culture

The 2010 novel 90 Miles to Havana by Cuban-American author Enrique Flores-Galbis is the coming-of-age tale of Julian, a young Cuban boy who, along with his two older brothers, travels to Miami as part of Operation Pedro Pan in the 1960s. The operation was a covert mission between Cuban and American authorities, with the help of the children’s parents, to evacuate Cuban children from the country during a time of political turmoil under new dictator Fidel... Read 90 Miles to Havana Summary

Across A Hundred Mountains

by Reyna Grande

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age

Tags Realistic Fiction, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction

Across a Hundred Mountains is a 2006 novel by Reyna Grande. It won the American Book Award. The novel tells the story of two women, Adelina and Juana. Every few pages, the novel alternates between each woman’s story. Adelina is an adult working at a woman’s shelter in Los Angeles and has devoted her life to searching for her father, who went missing many years ago. At the beginning of the novel, Adelina finally finds... Read Across A Hundred Mountains Summary

Ahimsa

by Supriya Kelkar

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Politics & Government, Social Class, Community, Nation, Equality, Justice, Good & Evil, Order & Chaos, Religion & Spirituality, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies, Colonialism, Education, Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Social Justice, Social Class, Education, World History, Asian History, European History, Incarceration, Politics & Government, Children`s Literature, Indian Literature, Arts & Culture

... Read Ahimsa Summary

Artemis Fowl

by Eoin Colfer

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Perseverance, Wins & Losses, Safety & Danger, Power & Greed, Justice, Trust & Doubt, Teamwork, Environment, Coming of Age, Family

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Mythology, Children`s Literature

Artemis Fowl (2001) is the first of 11 fantasy novels in the Fowl Adventures series. It was written by Eoin Colfer, an Irish writer, and details the titular character’s attempt to restore his family’s fortune by kidnapping an elf named Holly Short. Taking place in Colfer’s home country of Ireland, the novel is also his first foray into the fantasy genre. The novel explores themes of community, environmentalism, and the line between magic and science.In... Read Artemis Fowl Summary

Born Behind Bars

by Padma Venkatraman

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Nation, Social Class, Politics & Government, Community, Friendship, Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Love, Hope

Tags Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Poverty, Indian Literature, Social Class, Politics & Government, Incarceration, Children`s Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Born Behind Bars Summary

Boy of the Painted Cave

by Justin Denzel

Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Appearance & Reality, Wins & Losses, Perseverance

Tags Historical Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Animals, Arts & Culture, Disability, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, World History, Action & Adventure

Boy of the Painted Cave is a 1996 middle-grade historical fiction novel by Justin Denzel set 18,000 years ago in prehistoric France. The novel is told in the limited third-person point of view and follows Tao, a 14-year-old boy with a disability, who longs to be a cave painter for his clan. Tao has difficulty walking with his right foot, and he compensates for this by using a spear as a crutch. The crutch allows... Read Boy of the Painted Cave Summary

Brian's Return

by Gary Paulsen

Publication year 1999

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Environment, Animals, Perseverance, Safety & Danger, Beauty, Trust & Doubt

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age, Science & Nature, Action & Adventure, Children`s Literature, Classic Fiction

Brian's Return (1999) is a young adult fiction novel and the fourth book in author Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet series. Paulsen draws on his personal experiences from the wilderness to create Brian’s outdoor adventure and survival narrative throughout the series, stating in the author note, “Virtually all that happens to Brian in these books has happened to me at some point in my life” (112). Paulsen was awarded the Newberry Honor in 1988 for Hatchet, the first... Read Brian's Return 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

... Read Call it Courage Summary

Dogsong

by Gary Paulsen

Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Animals, Environment, Coming of Age

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

Dogsong, first published in 1985, is a young adult novel by American author Gary Paulsen, who wrote Dogsong while he was training his dog sled team for his first Iditarod run. It was awarded the Newbery Honor Award in 1986. Paulsen, who was a popular author of young adult and children’s contemporary literature, is best known for books in the coming-of-age genre, often dealing with surviving the wilderness and embracing nature. He authored more than... Read Dogsong Summary

Football Genius

by Tim Green

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Masculinity, Coming of Age, Hate & Anger, Teamwork, Fathers

Tags Sports, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction

Football Genius is a middle grade sports fiction novel by former NFL player Tim Green. A graduate of Syracuse University’s College of Law, Green played in the NFL for eight seasons before turning his focus towards broadcasting, law, business, and creative writing. In the novel, protagonist Troy White discovers an almost supernatural ability to predict football plays, wrestles with his father’s abandonment, and pushes back against the nepotism and bullying on his own high school... Read Football Genius Summary

Home of the Brave

by Katherine Applegate

Publication year 2007

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Family, Friendship, Coming of Age

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Historical Fiction, Arts & Culture

Home of the Brave is a 2008 juvenile novel by Katherine Applegate that is written entirely in free verse. The story revolves around the protagonist, a young boy named Kek, who has fled from violence and upheaval in his native Sudan and traveled alone to the United States. Kek’s father and older brother were killed in an attack on their camp, and Kek was forced to leave his mother behind to save his own life... Read Home of the Brave Summary

Indian Captive

by Lois Lenski

Publication year 1941

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Colonialism, Community, War

Tags Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure, Life-Inspired Fiction, US History, Colonial America, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, World History, Classic Fiction

... Read Indian Captive Summary

Mañanaland

by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Literature, Grief, Family

Tags Fantasy, Coming of Age, Arts & Culture, Grief & Death, Education, Relationships, American Literature, Children`s Literature, Realistic Fiction, Magical Realism, Action & Adventure

... Read Mañanaland Summary

My Life as a Book

by Janet Tashjian

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Childhood & Youth, Friendship, Fathers, Mothers

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Education, Grief & Death, Parenting, Relationships, Children`s Literature, Mystery & Crime Fiction

... Read My Life as a Book Summary

Odder

by Katherine Applegate

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Conflict, Animals, Environment, Appearance & Reality, Place, Beauty, Safety & Danger

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

... Read Odder Summary

Parvana's Journey

by Deborah Ellis

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Military & War, World History, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure

Parvana’s Journey by Deborah Ellis follows 13-year-old Parvana as she makes her way across war-torn Afghanistan in search of her mother and siblings. Published in 2002, this novel is a sequel to the international bestseller The Breadwinner, which was adapted as a 2017 animated film, and is the second in a series of four called The Breadwinner series. Although Parvana’s Journey is a work of fiction, Ellis bases the setting of the novel on the... Read Parvana's Journey Summary

Pax

by Sara Pennypacker

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

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

Pax is a heartwarming Children’s book by Sara Pennypacker showcasing the friendship between a young boy named Peter and his Fox, Pax. Pax is illustrated by Jon Klassen and was on the National Book Award Longlist. Sara Pennypacker has published 19 books, including Pax (2016), Summer of the Gypsy Moths, as well as the bestselling Clementine and Stuart series.Plot SummaryIn Pax, war brews at an unknown time in an unknown place, and Peter’s father forces... Read Pax Summary

Peter and the Starcatchers

by Dave Barry

Publication year 2004

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Colonialism, Teamwork, Loyalty & Betrayal, Friendship, Coming of Age, Childhood & Youth, Power & Greed, Community

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Action & Adventure, Humor, Children`s Literature, Coming of Age, Relationships, Trauma & Abuse, Poverty, American Literature

... Read Peter and the Starcatchers Summary