From: Megan Schliesman <Schliesman>
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 2003 08:56:49 -0600

The theme coming of age poses some interesting questions for me. My first response to the idea of "coming of age" literature is books about teenagers coming into their own, so to speak--gaining new insights into themselves that will carry them--and that they will carry-- into adulthood. Both Born Confused and Rats Saw God, two books alreayd mentioned, are wonderful examples of this.

But more and more, I find myself thinking of literature about younger protagonists as having its own "coming of age" theme. Perhaps the most vivid example of this is Jerry Spinelli's Wringer, where the main character's 10th birthday is a literal rite of passage in his community--one that he dreads. But because of that pending rite of passage, it forces him to define and defend his beliefs. This is certainly a strong coming of age theme.

So as we talk about books about "coming of age" I'm curious about the many ways we might define this type of literature. Do you see it as primarily about teenagers on the verge of adulthood. Am I finding books with younger and younger protagonists fit my idea of "coming of age" because the world we live in today demands greater and greater awareness of the "adult" world from young people?

How do you define coming of age?

Megan

Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, UW-Madison 600 N. Park St., Room 4290 Madison, Wi 53706 608&2?03 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
Received on Tue 04 Nov 2003 08:56:49 AM CST