"We look at the world once, in childhood," writes poet Louise Glück. "The rest is memory." As adults, our childhood may lie in the past, but its influence never leaves us. This collection gathers texts that depict and examine the innocence and insights of childhood and youth.
Publication year 1941
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Aging
Tags Classic Fiction, Southern Literature, American Literature
“A Visit of Charity” is a short story written by Eudora Welty, the first living writer published in the Library of America series. “A Visit of Charity” is one of 17 short stories in Welty’s 1941 collection A Curtain of Green, which also includes the stories “A Worn Path,” “Petrified Man,” and “Why I Live at the P.O.” The text referenced in this guide is from Eudora Welty: Stories, Essays, and Memoir, published by the... Read A Visit of Charity Summary
Publication year 1886
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Science / Nature, Gender / Feminism, American Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction
“A White Heron” is the most popular short story by American author Sarah Orne Jewett. A work of American regionalism and romanticism, the tale emphasizes the setting, the human-animal connection, a celebration of nature, and individual experience. Jewett is a famous figure in literary regionalism, and her work often explores themes of the natural world. In “A White Heron,” Jewett uses literary techniques such as personification to make the environment and animals come alive as... Read A White Heron Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Humor, Mystery / Crime Fiction
Publication year 2015
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Teams, Society: Education, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Regret
Tags Realistic Fiction, Science / Nature, Education, Children's Literature, Bullying, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery
Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Education
Tags Psychology
Publication year 2007
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Black Arts Movement, Love / Sexuality
Publication year 1936
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Future, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Education, Society: Class
Tags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, British Literature
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1841
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: The Past
Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Victorian Period, British Literature, History: World, Victorian Literature / Period
Publication year 2011
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Education, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Parenting, Asian Literature, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Education, Education, Chinese Literature, Biography
Amy Chua’s memoir, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother (2011), depicts Chua’s experience raising two American daughters according to Chinese cultural standards. Chua is a Yale law professor specializing in globalization and ethnic conflict. She is also a second-generation Chinese American, and her husband is Jewish. Chua’s strict approach is influenced by the parenting methods used by her own parents, which clash with those of her husband. Chua’s memoir was a New York Times bestseller... Read Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother Summary
Publication year 1982
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery
Tags Humor, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Self Discovery
Tags Auto/Biographical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Sports, African American Literature, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2004
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Community, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Identity: Language, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture
Publication year 1955
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Humor, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2014
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Community, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Femininity, Self Discovery
Tags LGBTQ, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Gender / Feminism, Biography
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Self Discovery, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Romance, WWII / World War II, Class, Education, Finance / Money / Wealth, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Military / War, Grief / Death, History: World, Parenting
Publication year 2011
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Spoken Word Poetry, Parenting