Category: Coming of Age

The Whalebone Theatre – Joanna Quinn

READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Jodie The story of Cristabel Seagrave from orphaned girl to WWIII spy. It is told in five acts, each portraying a different slice of her life and the stories of all the people in it. One Act is about the… Continue Reading “The Whalebone Theatre – Joanna Quinn”

Brotherless Night – V V Ganeshananthan

READ FOR WOMEN’S PRIZE Sashi is a 16-year-old Sri Lankan Tamil with aspirations to be a doctor. Even when civil unrest ensues and her four brothers are caught up in the violence, Sashi still finds a way to help people, at great risk to… Continue Reading “Brotherless Night – V V Ganeshananthan”

River East, River West – Aube Rey Lescure

READ FOR WOMEN’S PRIZE Alva is a 14-year-old half Chinese, half American girl with a secretive mother. They live in Shanghai but Alva dreams of a better life in the US. A coming of age, social drama about the impact of western emigration to… Continue Reading “River East, River West – Aube Rey Lescure”

Western Lane – Chetna Maroo

READ FOR BOOKERTHON In this coming of age novel, 11-year-old Gopi takes up competitive squash as a way to cope with the grief of her mother’s death and the challenges of being an ethnic minority living in Britain. ● After some wordy novels on… Continue Reading “Western Lane – Chetna Maroo”

If I Survive You – Jonathan Escoffery

READ FOR BOOKERTHON A series of linked stories about a Jamaican family in Miami, centered around younger son Trelawny and his determination to survive racism, financial woes and Hurricane Andrew. ● I am privileged in that I have generally always had a pretty strong sense… Continue Reading “If I Survive You – Jonathan Escoffery”

Cocoon – Zhang Yueran

READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Jo Li Jiaqi and Cheng Gong recall their childhood friendship under Chinese communist rule, living with extended family and in wonderment about what really happened that rainy night in 1967 in the abandoned water tower where Gong’s grandfather was attacked.… Continue Reading “Cocoon – Zhang Yueran”

The Lying Life of Adults – Elena Ferrante

READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Rachel Giovanni is a 13 year old living in Naples. One day she overhears her father compare her to her Aunt Vittoria, a woman the whole family despises. Hurt but also curious, Giovanni goes in search of her Aunt. Vittoria… Continue Reading “The Lying Life of Adults – Elena Ferrante”

Sisters – Daisy Johnson

READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Rachel Born ten months apart, July and September are almost like twins. They do not look the same, they do not have the same personalties, but they are becoming inseparable and September increasingly exhibits dark influences over July. Their closeness… Continue Reading “Sisters – Daisy Johnson”

The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath

READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Jodie. Esther Greenwood’s story is remarkably similar to Sylvia Plath’s own life and struggles and is considered autobiographical fiction, despite being written under a pseudonym. Esther is an editor with mental illness who soon succumbs to being institutionally committed, fighting… Continue Reading “The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath”

Normal People – Sally Rooney

READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Jodie Marianne and Connell  struggle to define themselves in their on-again, off-again relationship ✚ “Normal People follows the lives and  relationship of Irish students Connell and Marianne. Born to different social classes, the two experience fluctuating power struggles and divisions.… Continue Reading “Normal People – Sally Rooney”