Coming-of-Age

Mexican WhiteBoy follows Danny, a half-Mexican teen grappling with his identity and belonging while navigating family dynamics and his passion for baseball during a summer spent with his father's family in Mexico.

The Yearling is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a boy, Jody Baxter, and his bond with an orphaned fawn, exploring themes of love, loss, and survival in the Florida backwoods.

Auden spends a summer in a beach town, exploring teenage life and forming a deep connection with Eli, a fellow insomniac, as they both seek personal growth and healing.

Dear Edward is a poignant story about a twelve-year-old boy who is the sole survivor of a tragic plane crash and his journey to find meaning and hope amidst overwhelming loss.

The Red Kayak is a poignant tale about friendship, responsibility, and the moral complexities of truth, centered around a tragic accident that changes the lives of three boys forever.

'A Long Way from Chicago' is a heartwarming, humorous tale of Joey and Mary Alice's summers with their feisty grandmother, set during the Great Depression.

The Pigman is a poignant young adult novel about friendship, loss, and the passage from adolescence to maturity.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is a poignant coming-of-age novel set in 1964 South Carolina, exploring themes of maternal love, loss, and the search for identity.

A Painted House by John Grisham explores a young boy's coming-of-age in 1950s rural Arkansas amidst cotton-picking season and family secrets.

In 'Backwoods Romeo' by Daniel Elijah Sanderfer, Walt Ridgeway discovers friendship and love while reconnecting with a local boy, Dooley Harlow, in his Appalachian hometown, exploring themes of coming-of-age and family secrets.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a poignant coming-of-age story about Junior, a young cartoonist from the Spokane Indian Reservation, who strives for a better life by transferring to an all-white high school, confronting issues of identity, poverty, and belonging along the way.

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton is a compelling story of class conflict, friendship, and coming-of-age, focusing on the struggles between the Greasers and the Socs.

In 'Paper Towns,' Quentin Jacobson embarks on a journey to find Margo Roth Spiegelman after she vanishes, leaving behind a series of clues.

Dandelion Wine is a nostalgic coming-of-age novel by Ray Bradbury, capturing a magical summer in 1928 through the eyes of twelve-year-old Douglas Spaulding, exploring themes of life, loss, and the beauty of existence.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda follows sixteen-year-old Simon Spier, who faces blackmail over his sexual identity while navigating friendship, romance, and self-acceptance in high school.

Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata is a poignant coming-of-age story that explores themes of hope, family, and resilience through the lens of Katie Takeshima, a Japanese-American girl navigating challenges in the Deep South.

Craig Thompson's "Blankets" is a moving graphic memoir that explores first love, heartbreak, and the struggles of adolescence against the backdrop of a strict Christian upbringing in the Midwest.

In 'Season of Life,' Jeffrey Marx chronicles the inspiring journey of Joe Ehrmann, a former NFL star who teaches young men the true essence of masculinity through love, responsibility, and service, reshaping their understanding of success beyond the scoreboard.

I Am David by Anne Holm tells the gripping tale of a twelve-year-old boy's escape from a bleak prison camp in Eastern Europe and his journey to freedom in Denmark, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit amidst adversity.

Heartstopper: Volume Four follows Charlie and Nick as they navigate their blossoming relationship, dealing with love, mental health issues, and the challenges of coming out amidst the complexities of teenage life.