Whether you’re twelve or twenty-one, you’ve still got some growing up to do. That is why coming of age literature is one of the most commonly sought after books. These books are the special kind. The kind that comes to us at the exact time we need a voice telling us “you are not alone”. These books echo our experiences, and give us a sense of comfort that things can work out, even if we’re going through that awkward and uncertain age right now.
“Coming of age” is a subject
commonly tackled in literature. With characters ranging from the
likes of Huck Finn to Holden Caulfield, “coming of age”
literature will surely be forever evolving. This sub genre is a huge
reason why young adult fiction is so popular, to young and old.
Anyone can connect to a good coming of age story, because, at some
point in our life, we have gone through the same thing. The
experiences we each go through may be different, but the turmoil of
having to grow up is universal.
Tell
The Wolves I’m Home
By
Carol Rifka Brunt
“Maybe I
was destined to forever fall in love with people I couldn’t have.
Maybe there’s a whole assortment of impossible people waiting for
me to find them.
Waiting to
make me feel the same impossibility over and over again.”
This gem is for the kid who has that
one secret, the kind that no one will ever understand, because you
can’t quite understand it yourself. The novel takes place during a
time when being “HIV Positive” had yet to be fully understood; as
our narrator June Elbus struggles to find answers regarding the death
of her uncle. Throw in the last portrait her uncle had ever painted,
a jealous older sister (who is practically June’s worst enemy) and
a mysterious stranger who shows up at her uncle’s funeral, it’s
not so hard to see why June’s life has taken a turn for the worse.
This novel is for those who can’t seem to find anyone to turn to,
for those who still struggle to find “home”.
The
Outsiders
By
SE Hinton
“It seemed
funny that the sunset she saw from her patio and the one I saw from
the back steps was the same one. Maybe the two worlds we lived in
weren’t so different.
We saw the
same sunset.”
If you’ve ever
read the line “stay gold” on someone’s internet bio or on some
Tumblr photo, then you’ve just found the book they got it from. One
lesser known fact about this novel is that SE Hinton was 15 when she
started writing it. So who better to understand teenagers than one
herself? The Outsiders centers on Ponyboy, a greaser
(think “The T-Birds” from Grease
or basically the entire West Side Story)—and proud of it. But, his
life takes a dramatic turn when his friend Johnny accidentally
murders a
soc
(typical “preppy rich boy”). Forced to go on the run, Ponyboy
starts to rethink what it means to be on somebody’s side and how
greasers and socs may not be so different after all. The characters
in this novel are absolutely lovable. Reading this novel makes you
feel like you’re part of the gang (in some strange way) and
identifying yourself with these boys isn’t as hard as one might
think.
It’s
Kind of a Funny Story
By
Ned Vizzini
"Things
to do today:
1) Breathe
in.
2) Breathe
out."
The novel was
inspired by author Ned Vizzini’s own battle against depression,
specifically during his brief hospitalization period in 2004. After
being overwhelmed by the pressures of being a teenager (academics,
girls, you name it), Craig turns to 1-800-SUICIDE to solve his
problems. This only leads to him being admitted into a psychiatric
hospital, where he meets and fosters bonds with his fellow patients.
An interesting aspect of this novel is how Vizzini manages to mix
light humor with heavy issues of teenage angst and depression. This
book is for those who have ever felt it would be easier to just quit.
Though, the novel’s themes of accepting oneself and overcoming peer
pressure can surely strike a chord within each of us.
Submarine
by
Joe Dunthorne
“I took a photo of us, mid-embrace.
When I am old and alone I will remember that I once held something truly beautiful.”
This book is
especially enjoyable for those who love Wes Anderson’s dry humor.
Our narrator, Oliver Tate, is a bit more neurotic than most. Trying
to discover why his mom and dad are fighting, trying to get a
girlfriend, and trying to understand the world around him is what he
does throughout the novel, in his own quirky yet vulgar way. As
Oliver bumbles through being fifteen with his blunt and awkward self,
readers will simply not be able to resist laughing alongside (or at)
him. Our narrator is the kind of person who you’d absolutely hate
if you met, but absolutely love reading about. If you’ve ever felt
like you were trying too hard, or not trying hard enough, then Oliver
is definitely someone you can relate with. And, an added bonus, the
film based on the novel (directed by Richard Ayoade of IT
Crowd fame) has a killer soundtrack
all written and performed by Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys.
What’s not to love?
Norwegian
Wood
By
Haruki Murakami
“But who
can say what's best? That's why you need to grab whatever chance you
have of happiness where you find it, and not worry about other people
too much. My experience tells me that we get no more than two or
three such chances in a life time, and if we let them go, we regret
it for the rest of our lives.”
In my humble opinion, Haruki Murakami
is one of the greatest authors of this modern day and age. Norwegian
Wood is a little different from all his other novels (which are
usually filled with magic realism), but this is one of my favorites
by him. Told from the point of view of Toru Watanabe, a man looking
back at his college days, where in he fell for two very different
women – the happy go lucky Midori, and the fragile Naoko, tormented
by the death of her boyfriend, who just happens to be Toru’s best
friend. Murakami’s story telling is like no other. With clear and
beautiful imagery of Tokyo and lines so powerful that you’ll find
yourself rereading paragraphs over and over again, it is so easy to
love Norwegian Wood. Toru’s story and his reflections on life, love
and loss make this novel something else entirely.
In
my own personal experience, I have found that there is always
something new to take away from rereading any book, especially from
“coming of age” literature. Since I’ve still got a whole lot of
growing up to do myself, reading and rereading these types of books
always helps me look back at my own life and give me a better
understanding of the world around me. They say that “literature
reflects life”, and I think that the best kinds of books are those
that you feel a sense of familiarity with. So whether it’s Judy
Blume or John Green, I hope you find the book that makes you feel a
little less strange and that most importantly, you enjoy yourself
while reading.
Recommended
Coming Of Age films (to go with
the books!): The Way Way Back (2013), Fast Times at Ridgemont High
(1982), Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995), Harold and Maude (1971),
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Article by Katrina
Art by Bea
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