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.
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Fairy Tale / Folklore
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Identity: Indigenous, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Bullying
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers
Tags British Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Romance, WWI / World War I
Publication year 1984
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Class, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Allegory / Fable / Parable
“The Secret Lion” first appeared in Alberto Álvaro Ríos’s first short story collection, The Iguana Killer, published in 1984. Ríos, an Arizona native and distinguished professor at Arizona State University for 35 years, is a poet and author whose works center on his experience growing up Latinx. His work is now largely considered classic Chicano literature. Ríos received the Latino Literary Hall of Fame award for his memoir, Capirotada, and was named Arizona’s inaugural poet... Read The Secret Lion Summary
Publication year 1983
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Masculinity, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism
Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, History: U.S., Race / Racism, American Literature, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction
Published in 1983, The Sign of the Beaver is a historical adventure novel for middle grade readers written by Elizabeth George Speare. Based on a true story that took place in 1760s Colonial America, the book follows the adventures of a young English boy who, while living alone in the Maine wilderness, befriends a local Penobscot boy who teaches him how to survive. The experience changes his views of himself, his family and fellow colonists... Read The Sign of the Beaver Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Language, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family
Tags Disability, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Objects, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 1998
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Realistic Fiction, Bullying, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1973
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Children's Literature, Fantasy
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Fantasy, Romance, New Adult
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Natural World: Objects, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Mythology, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure
The Son of Neptune is the second novel in Rick Riordan’s The Heroes of Olympus series. Released in 2011, this novel continues the story begun in The Lost Hero, following Percy Jackson as he stumbles into the Roman demigod camp, Camp Jupiter, after losing his memory and eight months of his life. At the camp, Percy meets Hazel, daughter of Pluto, and Frank, son of Mars. Together, Percy, Hazel, and Frank are charged with a... Read The Son of Neptune Summary
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fate
Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Jennifer E. Smith’s The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (2012) is one of nine books that she has written for young adults to date. In an interview with Buzz Magazine, Smith said, “I’m kind of obsessed with moments in time that act as hinges, days where there’s a really clear split between before and after—where yesterday, your life was one way, and tomorrow it will be entirely different” (“Author Interview: Jennifer E. Smith.”... Read The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight Summary
Publication year 2008
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1981
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Objects, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Relationships, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Disability, Identity: Indigenous, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Fate
Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Mythology
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Mothers, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Technology, American Literature, Children's Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
The Strangers is a young adult mystery novel published in 2019 by the American author Margaret Peterson Haddix. It tells the story of the three Greystone children who seek to unravel a kidnapping mystery. It is Volume 1 in the Greystone Secrets series, which Haddix returned to in 2020 with Volume 2, The Deceivers. Haddix is the author of more than 40 books for kids and teens, including the Shadow Children series, the Missing series... Read The Strangers Summary
Publication year 1997
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature
Publication year 1998
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Love / Sexuality, American Literature