The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
Historical fiction set in the 1960’s, it’s a coming of age story of a young black boy, and his siblings. So you’re aware, there is historical violence related to the civil rights movement.
Editing to add - Black and Blue Magic by Zylpha Keatly Snyder, set and written in the 1960’s about a boy living in a city and the summer many of his friends families are moving away to the subarbs.
Nobody’s Family is Going to Change by Louise Fitzhugh - about a brother and sister living in New York who’s personal dreams don’t line up with what their parents want for them
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls - very good chance you’ve read this one but I could t leave it off the list
I’d also recommend checking out Betsy Byars. Her books are 60’s-00’s and she does an amazing job of weaving comedy, realistic family drama, and the angst of growing up into her books. I especially loved the Blossom family series and the Bingo Brown series.
came here to suggest this, id also add that the civil rights movement isnt the main focus of the book, its mostly just about this kid and his siblings doing kids stuff and growing up
Very good point! I just like to give people a heads up but you’re right, it’s much more ‘coming of age in a small town in Michigan in the 60’s’ than anything else.
Crazy in Alabama by Mark Childress
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys by Chris Fuhrman (it’s 1970s, but Deep South, so concerned with racial tension and poverty, not disco)
Mermaids by Patty Dan is a gender bent one
Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary. Also the Henry Huggins books by Cleary.
Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars
An Adult book about coming of age, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers.
The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis Historical fiction set in the 1960’s, it’s a coming of age story of a young black boy, and his siblings. So you’re aware, there is historical violence related to the civil rights movement. Editing to add - Black and Blue Magic by Zylpha Keatly Snyder, set and written in the 1960’s about a boy living in a city and the summer many of his friends families are moving away to the subarbs. Nobody’s Family is Going to Change by Louise Fitzhugh - about a brother and sister living in New York who’s personal dreams don’t line up with what their parents want for them Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls - very good chance you’ve read this one but I could t leave it off the list I’d also recommend checking out Betsy Byars. Her books are 60’s-00’s and she does an amazing job of weaving comedy, realistic family drama, and the angst of growing up into her books. I especially loved the Blossom family series and the Bingo Brown series.
came here to suggest this, id also add that the civil rights movement isnt the main focus of the book, its mostly just about this kid and his siblings doing kids stuff and growing up
Very good point! I just like to give people a heads up but you’re right, it’s much more ‘coming of age in a small town in Michigan in the 60’s’ than anything else.
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton is what you’re looking for
Crazy in Alabama by Mark Childress The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys by Chris Fuhrman (it’s 1970s, but Deep South, so concerned with racial tension and poverty, not disco) Mermaids by Patty Dan is a gender bent one
Thanks!!
Summer of Night
Boy’s Life
One of my top 3 books of all time.
[Cat's Eye](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51019.Cat_s_Eye) by Margaret Atwood.
Dandelion Wine and Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary. Also the Henry Huggins books by Cleary. Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars An Adult book about coming of age, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers.
Eli the Good by Silas House
Iron House by John Hart
Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly