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.

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Teams, Society: Immigration, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Contemporary Literature


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Russian Literature, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family

Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Disability, Mythology, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: 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


Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, 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


Publication year 1977

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Identity: Masculinity, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Grief / Death, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, 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


Publication year 1984

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Play: Drama, Play: Comedy / Satire, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Love / Sexuality, Great Depression, WWII / World War II, Poverty, Relationships, Religion / Spirituality, Education, Education, American Literature, Drama / Tragedy, 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


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Education, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Immigration, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Relationships: Family

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

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


Publication year 2024

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Language, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Music


Publication year 1959

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, History: World, 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


Publication year 2003

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: 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


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery

Tags Fantasy, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, 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


Publication year 1963

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Class

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Humor


Publication year 1939

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude

Tags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, History: World


Publication year 1940

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Community

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


Publication year 1990

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Survival Fiction, Children's Literature


Publication year 1974

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Gothic Literature, Religion / Spirituality, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

Stephen King’s Carrie is a supernatural horror novel originally published in 1974—the fourth novel King wrote but the first he published. The work became a bestseller upon the release of its paperback edition, setting King’s career in motion, and continues to be highly regarded. In the 1990s schools frequently banned it for its violent content, depictions of sexuality, and portrayal of fundamentalist Christianity. Carrie has been adapted several times, most notably as a 1976 film... Read Carrie Summary


Publication year 1955

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Education, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Masculinity

Tags Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World