Losing a baby tooth, having a first kiss, and getting a first job are all recognizable milestones along the path from childhood to adulthood. But moving toward those milestones comes with difficult adjustments.
Showcasing the delights and sorrows of childhood and adolescence, the following books depict subtler signs of maturation as well: accepting misfortune with grace, learning that the world isn’t always fair, and taking on new responsibilities. 
‘One Morning in Maine’ by Robert McCloskey
Readers already familiar with “Blueberries for Sal” by Robert McCloskey will find that “One Morning in Maine” provides a better opportunity for getting to know Sal. Waking up with a loose tooth on the day she and her little sister are meant to take a trip with their father first brings Sal consternation and then delight. Sal is excited to live up to her mother and father’s pronouncements that she’s now a big girl. Eager to use her new status to help her father to dig for clams on the beach, she soon discovers that growing older also means not crying, even when the unthinkable happens.
This book’s depiction of family life is wonderful. Sal takes care of her younger sister, Baby Jane, advising that she avoid getting toothpaste in her hair in the morning and holding her hand to cross a street. Similarly, Sal’s mother and father are shown caring for and teaching their daughter.
Parents will also find themselves enjoying Sal’s humorous curiosity as she sees similarities between her own tooth and the experience of birds losing feathers and motorcycles losing spark plugs. With charming illustrations of coastal wildlife, a lesson learned, and an ice cream cone at the end, this book is sure to please. “One Morning in Maine” is recommended for children ages 3–7. (Puffin Books, 1976, 64 pages)
‘The Moon by Night’ by Madeleine L’Engle
Although coming second in Madeleine L’Engle’s Austin Family series, “The Moon by Night,” is a coming-of-age story that can be read and enjoyed on its own. Vicky Austin is 14 and getting tired of hearing her family’s quips about being at a difficult age, even though she can’t deny that it’s true. Her moodiness and feelings of uncertainty are heightened by a change in scenery when her father takes the family on a cross-country trip to California from New England.
Suddenly, Vicky is confronted with a world much larger than the small town where she grew up.
Meeting a reckless boy who talks cheerfully about the world’s corruption and who scoffs at her religious family members leads Vicky to her first kiss and to existential dilemmas. She struggles with her faith and grapples with the problem of bad things happening to good people, yet the trip ultimately leads her to a greater appreciation of her family’s values.
Written in 1963, this novel offers a sense of an era on the brink of change and a traditional family that acts as a strong anchor of hope and comfort for Vicky—and possibly for readers as well. Featuring a realistic main character, her lovable family, and many descriptions of beautiful and dramatic American landscapes, “The Moon by Night” is best suited for readers aged 12–16 and may appeal mostly to girls. (Square Fish, 2008, 288 pages)
‘David Copperfield’ by Charles Dickens
For older teenagers, Charles Dickens’s “David Copperfield'’ is a fictional autobiographical work that traces the twists and turns of the title character’s life, from his earliest memories to adulthood. Although a lengthy book, it is engaging and is made delightful by classic Dickensian characters who are full of eccentricities and secrets.
Readers will quickly become invested in David’s life. Beginning with hardship, he’s sent to a harsh boarding school and eventually left to fend for himself by a cruel stepfather. However, soon a well-meaning though financially unstable family and a peculiar aunt provide David with support and love, adding countless moments of hilarity to the story.
As he ages, David’s good-natured naiveté serves him poorly, and he makes countless mistakes. Faced with learning the embarrassing consequences of having too much to drink and the challenge of frugal budgeting, as well as moments that truly test his bravery and morals, David grows into a steady, kindhearted young man.
This novel balances its treacherous villains with noble and kind characters, who might not fit the typical hero’s profile but certainly act heroically. A classic bildungsroman tale, “David Copperfield” is best suited to readers 17 and older. (Penguin, 2007, 1,028 pages)
