George, Jessica: *1994

Maame, 2023 - Thematic Parallels: Search for Coming-of-Age

George, Jessica: Maame, 2023
This is a funny and poignant coming-of-age novel—one that addresses timely issues like identity, caregiving, grief, racism, and found family, all while telling a memorable and emotionally resonant story.
The following books are thematically similar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Angelou, Maya: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969, ~290pp
  This is an autobiographical story that reveals the journey of a young Black woman facing family separation, racism, trauma, gratitude, and self-definition.
  Both novels tell emotionally rich stories of Black womanhood, resilience, and growth. They reflect personal journeys that resonate with broader social truths, making them thematically aligned and culturally significant.
- Danticat, Edwidge: Breath, Eyes, Memory, 1994, ~230pp
  This is a novel that deals with family, identity, and cultural heritage, focused on a Haitian family and the complexities of womanhood and trauma. This closely aligns with "Maame’s" exploration of cultural/gender expectations and family.
  Both novels depict young women of immigrant backgrounds trying to find personal and cultural identity in the shadow of familial obligation. They depict young women of immigrant backgrounds trying to find personal and cultural identity in the shadow of familial obligation. Both characters grapple with emotional repression and eventually seek liberation through truth and self-expression.
- Golding, William: Lord of the Flies, 1954, ~250pp
  This work deals with human nature, society, and loss of innocence.
  Both works explore what it means to grow up in harsh environments—whether a literal island (Golding) or the emotional terrain of adulthood (George)—and how that process often involves pain and disillusionment. Isolation—whether social, emotional, or physical—shapes the characters’ inner worlds and decisions. While "Lord of the Flies" uses allegory and survival horror to explore these themes, and "Maame" uses contemporary realism and coming-of-age storytelling, both ultimately ask: Who am I, when does the world stop telling me who to be?
- Kidd, Sue Monk: The Secret Life of Bees, 2002, ~300pp
  This novel deals with coming-of-age, mother-daughter relationships, loss, searching for belonging. The young protagonist flees a troubled family life and finds a surrogate family, echoing themes of loss, female support, and self-realization.
  Both novels are coming-of-age novels—they focus on young women navigating emotional upheaval, grief, and identity as they grow into adulthood. Both protagonists grapple with the loss of their mothers—physically and emotionally—and the absence shapes much of their emotional worlds. They are on a journey to define themselves outside the limiting or painful expectations placed upon them.
- Lahiri, Jhumpa: The Namesake, 2003, ~290pp
  A novel aboiut cultural identity, family dynamics, immigration.
  Both novels deeply explore the complexities of growing up between two cultures. They focus heavily on the protagonists’ relationships with their parents, especially dealing with duty, silence, and grief. The names become symbolic tools to explore identity, responsibility, and transformation - Gogol’s name is a central motif representing heritage, rebellion, and eventual acceptance; Maame means “woman” or “mother” and reflects the burden Maddie has carried from a young age.
List of general discussion questions on Search for Coming-of-Age (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Search for Coming-of-Age (pdf)