Fiction centered on a protagonist's transition from youth to maturity, driven by experiences that permanently change their understanding of the world.
Coming-of-age fiction tracks a young character through the experiences that transform them: first love, loss of innocence, confrontation with injustice, separation from family, or the realization that the world is more complicated than they believed. It's less a genre than a story shape, appearing across every genre from literary fiction to fantasy to horror. The emotional core is always the same: someone becoming who they're going to be.
Coming of age is one of the most universally resonant story patterns because everyone has lived it. Understanding its structure helps you write character arcs with genuine transformation, not just plot-driven change. It's also the dominant shape of YA fiction and a major element in most debut novels.
Scout Finch learning about racism, justice, and moral courage through her father's defense of a wrongly accused man.
A shy teenager navigating high school, friendship, and trauma, told through letters that grow more self-aware.
Coming of age as a wizard, with the real growth being Ged's confrontation with his own shadow.
Write a scene where a young character learns something they can't unlearn. It doesn't need to be dramatic: overhearing a parent's lie, seeing a friend be cruel, realizing an authority figure is wrong. Focus on the moment before they understand and the moment after. That gap is the coming of age.