George's Book Page

Coming-of-age novels explore that difficult journey all teenagers have to make to become an adult. These are some of my favourites.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Published in 1951, this is still the greatest coming-of-age novel ever written. The main character is Holden Caulfield, who runs away from school and spends a few days alone in New York. Like most 17-year-olds (including me), he doesn’t know what to do with his life. But one thing is clear. He wants to avoid anything ‘phony’ or fake. He doesn’t want to be like all the phony people he sees around him. The only person he really likes and can talk to is his younger sister Phoebe.

Salinger never allowed a film of his novel to be made- despite many requests from directors. Even so, The Catcher in the Rye has sold 65 million copies around the world. This book will change the way you look at the world.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

This isn’t the kind of book I normally read, but a friend recommended it. This 2002 novel is set in the USA in the 1960s and tells the story of Lily Owen, a white girl in the racially divided south. Her father treats her badly, but she’s a survivor. With the family’s black servant, Lily goes on a quest to discover the identity of her dead mother. On the journey, she meets three strange beekeepers who help her to grow up and be at peace with her history. The Secret Life of Bees has sold 6 million copies and a film was made in 2008. I’m reading this book at the moment—and I’m loving it!

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

This is an old book (published in 1860), but it’s brilliant. At the beginning, the orphan boy Pip is living with his bullying sister and her husband. But his life changes forever when he meets a terrifying escaped convict called Magwitch. The plot is exciting and there are some unforgettable characters, such as the eccentric Miss Havisham and the beautiful Estella. Pip is given a fortune by an unknown donor and becomes a gentleman. However, money can bring unhappiness—by the end of the story, he is a wiser but sadder man.

There are at least nine film versions of Great Expectations. You can check them out on Imbd.com.