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Writer's pictureGrace C

Coming-of-Age: 10 Books on Growing Up in Maine

It's that time of year again, when the 'Back to School' section is out at Target, summer reading challenges are nearing their end, and you're trying to soak up those last weeks of summer sun. Whether you're moving up to a new grade, leaving for college, or simply want to reminisce about growing up in Maine; Islandport Press has a plethora of coming-of-age stories to walk alongside your journey. Our wide selection may be daunting, but these ten coming-of-age favorites are a good place to start.

 

Hi everyone! I'm Grace, the 2024 summer editorial intern here at Islandport Press. I spent my coming-of-age years right here in the Pine Tree State, growing up in South Portland (Go Red Riots!). I am no stranger to growing pains, especially here in Maine, so it is my pleasure to share my top ten favorite coming-of-age books that we have here at Islandport Press. I hope you enjoy. You may just end up with your newest read!


 

by Marpheen Chann

This contemporary coming-of-age story is incredibly unique, yet also widely relatable. Chann, a second-generation Asian American, weaves us through his heartwarming journey from housing projects and foster homes; into houses of worship and across college campuses; and playing out in working-class Maine where he struggles to find his place. Raw, inspiring, and deeply layered; Chann recounts what he has learned, what he has lost, and what he has found as he faces the deep-seated challenges of our era. This book gives a new meaning to how one reconciles with their true identity.



"An earnest and well-written account of a search for self."
 

by Jim Nichols

In this story, author Jim Nichols writes a riveting coming-of-age novel that examines the melancholy fate of a boy torn apart by loss and domestic abuse, and the justice he eventually delivers, all the while writing a beautiful melody to counter it all, a song he calls ‘Blue Summer.’ While ultimately a story of the Shaw family's undoing, Blue Summer shows how haunting the past can be during one's search of self, and also how tragedy can oftentimes be turned into something beautiful.




"Blue Summer is a heartbreaking testament to youth, loss, love and the painfully inevitable passage of time."
-Jaed Coffin, author of Roughhouse Friday: A Memoir
 

by Julie True Kingsley

If you're looking for something a bit more light-hearted, Islandport's brand new young adult romance The Space Between You and Me is the choice for you. For Clem, summers are for Maine. But now, her grandmother is gone, she hasn't talked to her mom in months, and her dad is devoted to the family business. Clem must confront the hidden realities of the place she thought she once knew after meeting Rico, whose secrets rival her own as they grow closer. Refreshing and fun, The Space Between You and Me encapsulates themes of family, love, and choosing when to follow your mind verses your heart.



"At turns hilarious, spirited, vulnerable and passionate, Clementine, and her story, won me over in a heartbeat."
Cassie Powers, Pushcart-nominated writer
 

by Bee Burke

The Last Summer Before Whatever Happens Next is Islandport's upcoming young adult comedy due to release September 17, 2024. Set in the summer of "1980-something," valedictorian Claire Hart gets swept up in the storied world of the ultra-wealthy Toohey family. Perfect for teens who have just graduated high school, Claire's adventures push her to decide whether she wants to live a perfect future—or one that is perfect for her. Funny and bright, this read will place you right back into summer just when you thought it had ended.



“Readers will root for Claire throughout, and a surprise twist at the end has a visceral impact...A beach read that explores enduring social themes." Kirkus Reviews
 
#5. The Islanders (September 17)

by Lewis Robinson

Another upcoming release, The Islanders is a fiction novel for those who seek big adventure with even higher stakes. Shaken by problems at home, confused by the motives of a new love, and reeling from a public meltdown, high school hockey star Walt McNamara joins an exclusive leadership program controlled by the wealthy summer residents of Whaleback Island. As Walt and his fellow misfits expose truths from the island's past, they must use their intense training to sort friend from foe and find a way to survive. With charming and brave protagonists, you'll feel like you're part of the group as they grow to face each challenge.



“Robinson is at his expansive best, reaching into a fraught American moment while retaining his gift for creating endearing characters...I was enthralled from first page to last, and couldn’t wait to get back to the island.”
–Monica Wood, author of When We Were the Kennedys, The One-in-a-Million Boy, and How to Read a Book

 
#6. Mystery on Pine Lake (Cooper & Packrat series)

Written by Tamra Wight

Illustrated by Carl DiRocco

First in a series of five middle grade books, Mystery on Pine Lake follows Cooper, along with his new friend Packrat, who try and stop the trouble that has come to Cooper's family campground: someone is out to harm the nesting loons. It's up to the boys to figure out who, why, and how to stop the culprit before it's too late. The series continues with new adventures as the seasons change, which makes this series the perfect gift for a child who will grow alongside these two best friends (and maybe learn some important lessons along the way!)


"Packed with intrigue and sweet humor, this mystery with a conservation twist will grab young readers . . . Wight has penned a winning cast of characters, dialogue that sparkles and a plot that flies."
 

Written by Carolyn Cory Scoppettone

Illustrated by Priscilla Alpaugh

Hold This! is a children's picture book chalk-full of all the things we use to learn at a young age. A girl and her father go on a walk, experiencing all the sights, sounds, smalls, and feel of the woods. As Mika asks her father to hold each and every one of her found treasures, he, in turn, urges her to be a big girl and only carry what she is able to. Connecting to all of your senses, this book is a relatable story for young readers who are just navigating the world, but come to understand the responsibilities of being a big kid.


"By story’s end, readers will smile knowingly as they ultimately realize that like Mika’s walk, childhood innocence is something worth savoring."
—Pamela Brill, The Talking Walnut
 

by Sarah Marie A. Jette

A magical middle grade novel, What the Wind Can Tell You features a story of a young girl whose eyes open to a future of new possibilities. Protagonist Isabelle is determined to have her brother, Julian, who has a severe form of epilepsy and uses a wheelchair, serve as her assistant at the middle school science fair. But after Julian has a grand seizure, everything changes. Isabelle is suddenly granted entry into the world of Las Brisas, where Julian's physical limitations disappear. Jette's remarkable insight and impeccable writing makes difficult challenges in life approachable and understandable, a book that appeals to readers of all ages.



"The characters suffer while the story soars, people grow and learn as the plot thickens with magical proportions. Jette's first novel will be cherished by middle age readers, teachers and medical professionals."
—Jan Hamilton, Maine Children’s and YA Book Review, Maine State Library
 

by Scot Lehigh

Caught in the undercurrents of a struggling coastal town, this fierce coming-of-age novel hosts a troubled cast of characters. Headed by a young man searching for a father, his exploration of the hidden and often grueling pockets of Maine reveals a terrible secret. Not only is this an impeccably written account of growing up poor on the East Coast, but the story is as unpredictable and complex as it's characters. This novel is the perfect pick for someone who isn't afraid of the intense—and the unknown truth behind it.





“... Just East of Nowhere lingers in the mind. Lehigh adeptly combines his backstories with his central tale and skillfully handles three coming-of-age stories simultaneously. The novel’s end is replete with surprises.”
—Frank O Smith, Portland Press Herald
 

by Ruth Moore

In The Sea Flower (1964) Moore expertly and authentically tells the adventures of youth. The novel centers on two down-and-out orphans, Marney Lessard and Liz Bigelow, who separately flee from trouble only to find themselves adrift on the same luxury houseboat. When they run aground on a nearly deserted Maine island, the island's one seasonal resident attempts to change their fortunes. A story about friendship, community, and hardship at a young age, this book features the charms of Maine and it's genuine coastal residents like no story has before.




“It is doubtful if any American writer has ever done a better job of communicating a people, their talk, their thoughts, their geography, and their way of life.”
The New York Times
 









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