What better book to give away this week than Labor Day, by Joyce Maynard?
When it came out in August of 2009, BookPage called Maynard’s sixth novel “a marvelous read—perfect for one long sitting” (perhaps over a long Labor Day weekend?).
Here’s a summary of the novel, from our August 2010 Book Clubs column:
Henry is a 13-year-old loner who doesn’t venture far from the home he shares with his divorced mother, Adele. A fragile and introverted woman, Adele—like her son—tends to keep to herself. But their lives take an unexpected turn after a bleeding man named Frank asks Henry for help in a store. Frank—an escaped convict—holds mother and son hostage at their house over Labor Day weekend. Aggressive yet tender, he ties Adele to a chair but makes sure she’s fed, and he coaches the hopelessly clumsy Henry in baseball. When Adele and Frank find themselves falling in love, Henry struggles with feelings of jealousy. Scared of being abandoned, he’s forced to grow up fast as Labor Day approaches. At once beautiful and disturbing, this remarkable novel—Maynard’s sixth—is a moving read.
This coming-of-age story has been compared to Ian McEwan’s Atonement and Nick Hornby’s About a Boy. We think it would make a perfect read for a fall day—and of course a great pick for your book club.
We are giving away two copies of Labor Day—brand-new paperbacks from Harper Perennial. To enter, leave a comment telling us: What is your favorite coming-of-age book (novel, memoir, etc.)?
About Eliza, Associate Editor
Eliza loves teen novels by Madeleine L'Engle, anything by Julia Glass and vintage Nancy Drew postcards. Her favorite hobby is reading.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is my favorite.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith is my favorite coming of age book ever.
America America by Ethan Canin
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler.
The Last Child by John Hart is my latest coming of age novel that I love.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is my favorite coming-of-age novel. Please enter me in your contest to win Labor Day by Joyce Maynard. Have a good Labor Day!
A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN by Betty Smith – it’s one of my all time favorite books.
Most recently “This Must Be the Place” and in my teens “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn”
The Book Thief…very moving
“To Kill A Mockingbird”, I love Scout!!
I’ve gotta go with TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD too. One of the best American novels ever.
The Bell Jar – my all time fave!
“To Kill A Mockingbird”
My favorite coming of age novel would be TO Kill a Mockingbird – powerful novel!!
One of my favorite genre. Recently read “Chasing Redbird” by Sharon Creech. Her books portray characters realizing their own possibilities. I read quite a few Juvenile and YA books since I work in that dept of my local library.
I have to agree that Catcher In The Rye, To Kill A Mockingbird & A Tree Grows In Brooklyn are all timeless classics but I have to include Diary of Anne Frank as my favorite.
I have been eyeing this book in the stores now for quite a while & would love to win it. Please enter me, thanks for the contest.
“Peace Like a River” by Lief Enger – it is one of my most favorite books. Told through the voice of Reuben, the youngest son in the family, it made me laugh and cry and stayed with me long after I turned the last page.
My favorite coming of age book is James Joyce’s Portrait of an Artist as Young Man–it deposed Slainger by a smidge for that honor–have not read it in years–wonder how I would feel about it now?
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. I read it over and over as a kid and then when my younger cousin was in school is was mandatory reading.
Bridge to Terabithia.
catcher in the rye…
Cold Flat Junction by Martha Grimes.
Definitely A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Bette Smith. I usually read it every year.
I loved a ‘Tree Grows in Brooklyn’ both the book and the movie. It always brought tears to my eyes.
Hi! My pick would be “Across Five Aprils”.
Thank you for this giveaway!
My favorite coming of age book would be “Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret” by Judy Blume. I can’t remember much about it, but it was a perfect read for a shy 12 year old.
It would be “Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret” or “Forever” by Judy Blume.
The Six Rules of Maybe!
Diary of Anne Frank
The Red Pony
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn as well as all of Betty Smith’s other books, including Maggie Now. When I first read A Tree… as a teenager I hunted down her other books and love them all.
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
seventeen by margaret daly
Object Lessons by Anna Quindlen
The Diary of Anne Frank. I have read it several times and, while in Amsterdam, toured the house she and her family hid in. Amazing what they endured!
The Giver by Lois Lowry . . . though I understand that it’s not your normal environment and that Jonas is not your normal boy. But he does come to age in the story — in his own way, in his own environment and understanding of what’s going on around him.
Catcher in the Rye
Ellen Foster
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
An Ocean in Iowa: A Novel by Peter Hedges
I liked Brooklyn, by Colm Toibin.
There have been so many good books mentioned that I totally agree with. The one that I most recently read was Marcelo in the Real World. It’s a great story about a young boy with Aspergers sysdrome.
My favorite “coming of age” reads are THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES and SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUT.
“Ellen Foster” by Kaye Gibbons
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
”Less Than Zero” by Bret Easton Ellis, because it’s not strictly a ”coming-of-age” novel — that is, there is no resolution, no learning curve. That’s the way most people live their lives: without conclusiveness; without neat, ‘after-school special’ answers and moral lessons. It just is.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
The Man in the Box by Thomas Moran. This author has a different way of looking at things that really touch you.
The Best Little Boy in the World by Andrew Tobias (‘cept I read it BEFORE Mr. Tobias accepted responsibility/blame for the book!)
My favorite is To Kill a Mockingbird. Read it when I was a teenager and still love it!
Is there any better than Catcher in the Rye?
The Secret Life of Bees.
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com
“The Story of Edgar Sawtelle”
Say You’re One of Them by Uwem Akpan
and
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Both are incredible books that are absolutely griping.
Once you start reading them you can’t put them down.
I love the Anne of Green Gable series; think that could qualify for a ‘coming of age b ook’.
Cutting for stone by Abraham Verghese and
Say You’r4e One of them by Uwem Akpan
Both books are griping reads. You cannot put them down once you start reading them.
Anne of Green Gables is such a classic tale.
Please include me in the giveaway. My favorite coming of age story is Stand By Me by Stephen King. I love this fascinating story. I also enjoyed the movie. Thank you.
makeupgirl21@comcast.net
I agree – Catcher In The Rye
“Island of the Blue Dolphins”
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was one of my favorite coming-of-age stories. Who could not love Scout and her dad.
I also loved Saving CeeCee Honeycutt.
I agree with the “Anne of Green Gables” series–not just coming of age but coming of life and all the personal growth as it happened.
My favorite was Catcher in The Rye.
My favorite book of all time – coming-of-age or not – is To Kill A Mockingbird. I’m super excited because my local library is doing that for book club in September!
My favorite is the Chocolate Wars. I first read it in Junior High and still think it is great.
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
Catcher in the Rye is classic. To Kill a Mockingbird is monumental.
My all time favorite: Anne of Green Gables
Coming of Age in Mississippi!
Nothing comes to mind right now but I would like to win a copy of the book. It sounds interesting.
I loved A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Read it when
I was a teen and it was an eye opener – having
to adjust to being poor and dealing with an
alcoholic father etc. A great story!!!
I would love an advance copy of Labor Day. It
sounds like a good read.
THE NOTEBOOK TOLD OF COMING OF AGE AND ALSO LASTING TRUE LOVE. I LOVED THE BOOK AND ALSO THE MOVIE. SUCH A TOUCHING STORY, IT REALLY TOUCHED ME
I loved Little Women-it was the very first book that I was so engrossed in-I actually put myself in one the characters-and I still do that to this day!
Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt is my favorite!
The Secret life of bees is my fav.
The Glass Castle.
I really enjoyed To Kill A Mockingbird; a more recent coming of age book I enjoyed was Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt. Labor Day is on my wishlist.
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.
a toss up between catcher in the rye and to kill a mocking bird…
The Anne of Green Gables series is the best ever! All the women are wonderful role models.
I would have to say Secret life of Bees.
I have always loved the classic “Peyton Place”.
To Kill a Mockingbird is just the best ever, but The Secret Life of Bees brings the story to the reader in the same “through-the-eyes-of-a-chld story.I thought the two books share much of the same feeling in their presentation.
I loved The Secret Life of Bees.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
“The Little Friend” by Donna Tartt
Guess my favorite would be A River Runs Through It.
Where the Red Fern grows. It is more of a younger read, but I read it about three times when I was younger and was definitely my favorite for a long time.
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
I THINK THE BOOK SOUNDS VERY INTERESTING.GENE
THE OUTSIDERS.GENE
Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman. Loved it & wanted to live with her in that Savannah home.
Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman.
To Kill a Mockingbird’s Scout experiences many incidents as she comes-of-age. She – and us as the reader – are only stronger for these experiences.
I say the “Anne of Green Gables” series and The Secret Garden.
I think my favorite would have to be “Pride & Prejudice”
forever or are you there god? it’s me, margaret by judy blume
The Glass Castle
My favorite coming-of-age novel is Salinger’s CATCHER IN THE RYE!
To Kill A Mockingbird is the best ever… I’ve found nothting to remotely compare.
Hard to decided between Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird. Both classics and something to read over and over. Each time learning something new.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has to be one of my favorites. Twain is a hoot! Every time I read it, I find some new gem to laugh at.
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