10 coming of age books to celebrate International Youth Day

Aug 11

Abstract art with title: 10 coming of age books for International Youth Day

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August 12 is International Youth Day, a day established by the UN in 1999 to raise awareness about issues facing young people globally and to empower them as partners in our society. Its roots lie in the UN's commitment to highlighting youth as a demographic force for positive change, addressing challenges from education and employment to climate change and peace-building. It's a day to champion their voices, their innovations, and their unwavering spirit.

To mark this day, and in the spirit of growth, self-discovery, and the incredible journey from adolescence to adulthood, here are 10 powerful coming-of-age fiction books published in 2025 that perfectly capture the essence of youth's resilience and transformative power.

These stories help us reflect on the journeys that shape us all and our role in supporting.

Happy reading, and happy International Youth Day!

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Grieving her drowned sister, 23-year-old Alison moves to NYC. When her sister returns as a ghost fish, Alison carries it everywhere, but its presence threatens to keep her from embracing new life and love.

AMAZON

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After a secret forces 16-year-old Gertie to her relapsing father's, she escapes into fantasy. Years later, she revisits that explosive summer, writing her true story to find grace.

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From the author of Oprah's Book Club pick and New York Times best seller Nightcrawling

Banished to Florida for being pregnant, sixteen-year-old Adela finds refuge with the Girls: a band of young, outcast mothers living on their own terms, raising kids and finding love in a small beach town.

AMAZON

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FEBRUARY 2025 GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK

Junie, a 16-year-old enslaved girl about to be committed to marriage, commits a desperate act to free her dead sister's spirit.

AMAZON

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MAY 2025 OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK

Hai, a despairing nineteen-year-old, and Grazina, a dementia-stricken widow, forge an unlikely, soul-searching bond that transforms their lives amid East Gladness’s haunting industrial decay.

AMAZON

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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove

Louisa investigates the story behind a mysterious painting depicting three figures at a pier, uncovering the intertwined lives of four teenagers from a past summer.

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Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin

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Freya Arnalds returns to her hometown to fix her inherited house after a financial crisis. There, she reconnects with childhood friends and family. Together they work to restore the home and heal past wounds.

AMAZON

All That Life Can Afford by Emily Everett

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APRIL 2025 REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK

Anna, a struggling young American, dives into London's elite world, juggling love and self-discovery while trying to escape her past.

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Based on the life of Lambert Simnel, pretender to the throne of England

In 1480, John discovers he is the Duke of Clarence's son, hidden from Richard III. Educated for kingship, he allies with the politically savvy Joan, seeking to alter England's future. Inspired by a true story.

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