32 Best Coming of Age Books

Entertainment & Tourism Industries In New York City Struggle Under Pandemic Restrictions
Entertainment & Tourism Industries In New York City Struggle Under Pandemic Restrictions / Noam Galai/GettyImages

There are many great coming-of-age books to read, but here are 32 of our favorites.

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower tells the story of a high school freshman’s first year and the challenges that come with it. 

Twelve

An instant classic, this novel follows a group of wealthy teenagers in New York City that push how far their boundaries can stretch.

Tietam Brown

This memoir tells the story of Mick Foley’s coming of age.

Absolute Beginners

This novel follows the lives of a group of young people living in London in the 1950s.

Rats Saw God

Rats Saw God sees Steve, a high school student, trying to figure out his place in the world.

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit

This semi-autobiographical novel follows a young girl who is trying to come to terms with her sexuality.

The Rachel Papers

Amis tells the story of a young man trying to lose his virginity before he turns 20.

Black Swan Green

The story of a young boy in Thatcher-era England as he comes of age.

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You

This novel follows the life of James, a teenager who is trying to find his place in the world.

Vernon God Little

Winner of the Booker Prize, this is the story of a high school student implicated in a school shooting.

Skippy Dies

A coming-of-age novel with a difference, Skippy Dies, is set in a Dublin boys’ school.

Wait Until Spring, Bandini

This is the story of Arturo Bandini, a young man trying to make it in Hollywood.

The Art Of Fielding

This book is about the game of baseball, loyalty, and friendship.

The Rotter’s Club

Follow this story about a group of friends in the 1970s and their lives during that time.

The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier And Clay

Two men create a comic book character during the golden age of comics.

King Dork

A high school nerd tries to figure out who killed his best friend.

My Year Of Rest And Relaxation

A woman takes a year off from her life to sleep and recover.

Great Expectations

A young orphan is taken in by a wealthy family and has an interesting journey.

The Growing Pains Of Adrian Mole

Adrian Mole is a teenager trying to figure out love and life.

Goodbye Columbus

A young man moves to New York and explores his relationships with other Jews.

Less Than Zero

A young man comes back to Los Angeles and finds a different world than he remembers.

More Than This

A boy tries to find out what happened to his brother after a mysterious event.

Jane Eyre

A young woman grows up and finds her place in the world.

Never Let Me Go

A group of friends grapples with their mortality.

The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

Huck Finn runs away from home and has adventures on the Mississippi River.

The Kite Runner

A young boy in Afghanistan must deal with his country’s history.

A Clockwork Orange

A young man is rehabilitated in a dystopian society.

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime

A boy with autism tries to figure out who killed his neighbor’s dog.

The Catcher In The Rye

A young man tries to find his way in the world.

The Secret History

A group of friends at college get caught up in a murder.

The Virgin Suicides

The story of five sisters who kill themselves.

The Outsiders

Teenage gangs, high school politics, and social lines are explored in this novel.