Harry Potter

Most of you will have read it already, some of you will be sick of it, but you can't do a coming of age list without mentioning it. Harry Potter is one of the most influential stories of this generation, and at its heart is a story of growth, friendship, and learning. The first book presents a typical orphan-to-legend trope as Harry slowly discovers who his parents were and the wizarding world he's been sheltered from. His affinity for magic and thwarting Voldemort quickly turns him into a legend, and his character matures into that role as the series continues. However, things get more interesting when you consider the other characters in the story. Rowling manages to create incredible depth in every single one of her characters, evolving them organically from book to book. Ron, for example, learns to get over his disdain for Harry's fame, while Hermione ditches the know-it-all attitude and becomes more compassionate. Neville has a great transformation from a clumsy, self-hating child to a competent and loyal resistance leader. The same attention is paid to the story's antagonists. Malfoy begins a spiteful child and progresses into something far more dangerous. Working in tandem with some truly amazing world building, this character progression makes Harry Potter well worth the praise it receives. Read if you like: Magic school stories, mythical creatures, chosen one fantasy.