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 2004
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Historical Fiction, Grief / Death, Asian Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Realistic Fiction, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, History: U.S., Parenting, Race / Racism, American Literature, Children's Literature, History: World
Cynthia Kadohata’s first novel, Kira-Kira (2004), is a historical coming-of-age novel for middle-grade readers. The novel tells the story of the Japanese American Takeshima family, who live in the Chesterfield, Georgia, in the 1950s. The protagonist and first-person narrator is the younger daughter, Katie. The narrative spans seven years, involving the family’s move from Iowa to the South, where Katie’s parents become workers in the poultry industry. The narrative follows Katie as she awakens to... Read Kira-Kira Summary
Publication year 1920
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Scandinavian Literature
Kristin Lavransdatter is a trilogy of historical novels by Norwegian author and Nobel Prize winner Sigrid Undset. Published between 1920 and 1922, the trilogy consists of The Wreath (see the comprehensive SuperSummary guide to The Wreath here), The Wife, and The Cross. The novels chronicle Scandinavian life during the Middle Ages. They follow the eponymous protagonist, Kristin Lavransdatter, a woman living in 1300s Norway. The trilogy is generally considered Undset’s magnum opus. This guide is... Read Kristin Lavransdatter Summary
Publication year 2006
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Immigration, Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Siblings, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Immigration / Refugee, Education, Education, Historical Fiction, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Community
Tags Historical Fiction, Humor, Fantasy, Absurdism, Religion / Spirituality, History: World
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Society: Politics & Government, Natural World: Place, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Western, History: World
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Masculinity, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2008
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Mythology, Military / War, Italian Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Sexuality
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, LGBTQ, Relationships, Class, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1554
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Class, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Classic Fiction, Class, Religion / Spirituality
Lazarillo de Tormes (also known as The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes and of His Fortunes and Adversities) was published in three Spanish cities in 1554 and has been in publication ever since. It is a picaresque novel characterized mainly by its use of satire. A picaresque novel contains a first-person narrator who is a picaro, a young boy who might be considered a rogue or born of low class. In this early style novel... Read Lazarillo De Tormes Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ, Race / Racism, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Grandparents, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Teams, Society: Community, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Grief / Death, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 1985
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Class
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, History: U.S., American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Classic Fiction
Less than Zero (1985) is the debut novel of Los Angeles-based writer Bret Easton Ellis. It was published when the writer was only 21 and grew out of a creative writing course that he took at Bennington College. The novel brought Ellis fame for his willingness to address controversial topics in contemporary Los Angeles society. Ellis has become known for his deliberately provocative subject matter. A sequel to Less Than Zero, Imperial Bedrooms, was published... Read Less Than Zero Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Sports, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, History: U.S., Diversity, African American Literature, Gender / Feminism, History: World
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment
Tags Historical Fiction, Survival Fiction, WWII / World War II, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World
Publication year 2014
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Sports, Biography, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Gender
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Romance
Publication year 2017
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Society: Community, Self Discovery, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Parenting
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Military / War, WWI / World War I, Children's Literature, History: World