What are some good coming of age books?

Question

I love coming of age books and want to read some more good ones, any tips?

Answer 1

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Answer 2

The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb, which includes the books Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin and Assassin's Quest, is absolutely wonderful. They are my favourite books, and I have read a lot of books. Although they are lumped into the fantasy genre, they are often described as a coming of age story. They follow the life from early childhood to adult of a prince's bastard son, Fitz. Fitz is dumped at the gates of the keep one day by his mother's father who can't afford to look after him anymore. Fitz is then taken in by the king and eventually given over to the tutelage of the royal assassin to learn how to kill a man secretly.
Along with being trained as an assassin, Fitz has to deal with the fact that he has the ability to communicate with some animals, a magic called The Wit, which is feared and condemned by all who do not possess it. I won't go into more detail about the plot, if you want to know more about it I suggest looking it up on Amazon and reading some reviews.
These are written in first person, which is great because you get really involved with Fitz. He is a very likeable, yet flawed, very realistic human character. He has real and believable relationships with people, some of them very deep and beautiful. He finds his first love, makes a bond with a wolf using the Wit magic, experiences heartache, has a deep and beautiful friendship with the Fool, who is the court jester. The Fool is possibly the best character I've ever come across and their relationship is so engrossing, I found myself skimming to the next part that they're together just to be with them. This book does not have big long epic battles, or endless description of the palace etc. like so many other fantasy books. It's just the story of Fitz's life, and it's a great one. I never wanted it to end.
*Some people complain that the first book is too slow and nothing happens and they give up. Don't give up, please! These books are more like one big story split into three than three separate books with different plots etc. Look at the first book as the introduction, and you'll find the next books more unputdownable.

Answer 3

These are good for teenagers:

The Outsiders
Tex
Speak
It Happened to Nancy
The Giver
Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging (there are several books in the series)
A Child Called It (will make you cry)
Forever (by Judy Blume)
Deenie

For younger or early teens:
Tuck Everlasting
Bridge to Terebithia
Are You There, God, It's Me, Margaret
Then Again, Maybe I Won't
Maniac Magee

If you put any of these into the Barnes and Noble web site (bn.com) it will also give you a list of other books similar to these, so that might give you a few ideas.

Answer 4

Vision Quest by Terry Davis

‘Vision Quest’ is a journey of discovering your true self.

Review on Amazon:

Seventeen years ago, as a junior going through a rather undistinguished high school wrestling career and frustrating first relationship with a member of the opposite sex, this book really hit home with me. The story was much more complex than the movie, as were the characters. It was about more than wrestling, it was about the insecurities, fears and hang-ups of a young man trying to find his place in the world. It wasn't just about Loudon's relationships with Carla and Kuch, it was about his whole world. His family, his friends, his teachers. It's a cliche, but it's true. It made me laugh and it made me cry. It still does.

Answer 5

Inside Daisy Clover, Gavin Lambert
Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger
One Hand Clapping, Anthony Burgess

Answer 6

Check out books by Stephen Gould(not the late scientist) and by Emily Drake.

Answer 7

King Fortis the Brave, Eragon and Harry Potter are great!

Answer 8

"Where the Red Fern Grows" is a good one. I read it in a Children's Lit class.
Oooh The Giver is a great one too.