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.

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Community, Identity: Race, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Mothers

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Race / Racism, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, History: World, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Music, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Military / War, Realistic Fiction, History: World

Refugee (2017) is a historical, young adult fiction novel by Alan Gratz. It follows the stories of three refugee children in three different geographic locations and points in time. Each child experiences traumatic losses and personal victories as they struggle to escape the political instability of their homelands. Josef Landau is fleeing Nazi Germany in 1939. Isabel Fernandez is escaping Castro’s Cuba in 1994. Mahmoud Bishara is leaving Syria during the volatile regime of Bashar... Read Refugee Summary


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Military / War, Realistic Fiction, Arts / Culture

Shooting Kabul is a middle-grade novel published in 2010 by American author N. H. Senzai. In July 2001, 11-year-old Fadi Nurzai and his family flee Afghanistan, where the Taliban are taking power, to live in San Francisco. While boarding the truck in Kabul that will take them across the Pakistani border, Fadi loses his six-year-old sister, Mariam, in the melee, and she is left behind. The novel focuses on Fadi’s struggle with his conscience over losing... Read Shooting Kabul Summary


Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Teams, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Animals, Relationships, Children's Literature

Kenneth Oppel’s 1997 award-winning middle-grade novel Silverwing is a high-fantasy work that follows a young bat’s journey to find his colony. The novel has sold over a million copies and been adapted for television as an animated children’s series. This book is the first of four in The Silverwing Book Series.Other works by this author include Inkling, Bloom, Half Brother, and Airborn.Plot SummaryThe novel is divided into three parts, and it shifts point of view... Read Silverwing Summary


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family

Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Magical Realism, Action / Adventure

A loose adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey, Guadalupe Garcia McCall’s Summer of the Mariposas (2012) follows five Mexican American sisters on an epic journey from Texas to Mexico. Drawing deeply from Mexican folklore, the book’s genre blends magical realism and fantasy. The book was a 2013 Andre Norton Award Nominee, won the Westchester Fiction Award, and made the list of 2012 School Library Journal Best Books. Guadalupe Garcia McCall was born in Piedras Negras in Coahuila... Read Summer of the Mariposas Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Birth, Society: War, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, History: Asian

The artist and writer Thi Bui published her autobiographical graphic memoir, The Best We Could Do, in 2017. Alternating her narrative between her present-day experiences as a new mother in New York City with her parents’ past growing up in and then escaping from Vietnam, Bui builds a complex web of intergenerational trauma and love. This is Bui’s first venture into comic book illustration. The artwork that accompanies her narrative is based on the black... Read The Best We Could Do Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Self Discovery

Tags Survival Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Animals, Grief / Death, Mental Illness, Parenting, Natural Disaster, Science / Nature, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature


Publication year 1960

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Music, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Self Discovery, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place

Tags Children's Literature, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Animals, Diversity, Science / Nature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

Trapped in a picnic basket, Chester Cricket travels from his peaceful Connecticut home to the bustling Times Square subway station in George Selden’s classic children’s novel, The Cricket in Times Square (1960). There, Chester makes three good friends who help him navigate—and enjoy—his new city life: Mario Bellini, a young boy whose parents run a struggling newsstand; Tucker, a sociable mouse; and Tucker’s best friend, the cultured Harry Cat. Mishaps in the newsstand set Mama... Read The Cricket In Times Square Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Education, Education, History: World, Biography, Social Justice, Politics / Government

In The Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life (2017), Lauren Markham tells the true story of 17-year-old Salvadoran twins, Ernesto and Raúl Flores, who flee violence in El Salvador to build new lives for themselves in America. It follows the twins from their initial exodus from El Salvador, across the Rio Grande, and into the United States, where a world of both unbounded possibility and undeniable danger await... Read The Far Away Brothers Summary


Publication year 1960

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Animals, Classic Fiction

The Incredible Journey was written by Sheila Burnford and published in 1960. It is a children’s title—although Burnford has asserted that it was not meant for children exclusively. The novel began to enjoy cultural prominence when it was adapted into a Disney film in 1963. It was also re-made in a 1993 film. Plot SummaryIt is the beginning of an Indian summer in northwest Ontario at the outset of the story. The writer John Longridge... Read The Incredible Journey Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Sexuality

Tags LGBTQ, Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Asian Literature, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Animals, Fantasy, Action / Adventure

Kate DiCamillo’s The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, published in 2006, is a novel about the life of Edward Tulane, a three-foot tall china rabbit. While the book functions like a fairy tale, having magical content and a clear moral, both young and adult audiences can relate to the themes of love and loss that Edward endures. Although the chapters are short, and the language is geared towards children, the themes serve as a larger... Read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Arts / Culture

The Only Road (2016) is Alexandra Diaz’s second novel. Diaz is the daughter of Cuban immigrants, and this book focuses on the experience of migration. The novel, written primarily for young adults, follows cousins Jaime and Ángela, who are forced to flee their small Guatemalan village after the local gang kills Ángela’s brother. Faced with either joining the gang responsible for his death or taking the uncertain 4,000-kilometer journey north, Jaime and Ángela reluctantly leave... Read The Only Road Summary


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Military / War, Arts / Culture, Education, Gender / Feminism, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, African Literature, History: African , Children's Literature


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 1953

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Christian literature, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Children's Literature, Religion / Spirituality

The Silver Chair is a novel for children written by British author C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) and is part of his world-famous fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia. Originally published in 1953 as the fourth installment of the series, The Silver Chair is also referred to as the sixth book, since newer editions often publish them in chronological order by storyline rather than by publication date.This guide is based on the 2009 Kindle edition.Through its enduring... Read The Silver Chair Summary


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Flora/plants, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Beauty

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Animals, Science / Nature, Children's Literature


Publication year 1908

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Flora/plants

Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Animals, British Literature, Classic Fiction

First published in 1908, The Wind in the Willows by Scottish writer Kenneth Grahame is a story for young readers that recounts the adventures of three animals: Mole, Rat, and Badger. In the woodlands where they live, the trio must deal with various problems—which include frequently rescuing their friend Mr. Toad, who loves thrills and often causes trouble.Widely considered one of the greatest literary works for children, The Wind in the Willows has been reprinted... Read The Wind in the Willows Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Indigenous, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Mothers, Natural World: Animals, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Place, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community

Tags Action / Adventure, Survival Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Natural Disaster, Climate Change, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction


Publication year 1926

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Place, Society: Community

Tags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Animals, Food, Relationships, Science / Nature