The best books about growing up

Why am I passionate about this?

I was a goofy-looking kid growing up.  My ears were so big that someone once said I didn’t need an alarm clock because I could hear the sun coming up. On top of that, I was also very average at everything I tried.  However, I found that being funny made people like me. I also realized that, as long as God loved me and had a plan for me, I could be a superhero despite being average at everything. So when Focus on the Family asked me to start writing, I knew exactly what I’d write about…me! Average Boy!  


I wrote...

Average Boy's Above-Average Year

By Bob Smiley,

Book cover of Average Boy's Above-Average Year

What is my book about?

Average Boy, the longtime popular character from the Clubhouse magazine feature “Adventures of Average Boy,” is at it again.  Average Boy finds himself in hilarious situations as he attends a new school, deals with new bullies, and faces new goals to live out a Godly life. There’s also a food fight.

Boys and girls will laugh and relate to Average Boy’s wild adventures while learning some Godly principles in life. 

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Trumpet of the Swan

Bob Smiley Why did I love this book?

I like to root for the underdog. I love reading about people, or in this case, a swan overcoming obstacles in life to become extraordinary.  Louis the Swan was born without a voice, yet he found a way to overcome this set back and become triumphant in life.

Reading this story as a kid made me feel like I could achieve anything if I kept working hard and looking for strange opportunities to thrive. Sometimes, you just have to go for it, and without giving too much away, Louis went for it!

By E. B. White, Fred Marcellino (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Trumpet of the Swan as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

The delightful classic by E. B. White, author of Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, about overcoming obstacles and the joy of music. 

Like the rest of his family, Louis is a trumpeter swan. But unlike his four brothers and sisters, Louis can't trumpet joyfully. In fact, he can't even make a sound. And since he can't trumpet his love, the beautiful swan Serena pays absolutely no attention to him.

Louis tries everything he can think of to win Serena's affection—he even goes to school to learn to read and write. But nothing seems to work. Then his father steals him…


Book cover of Alvin Fernald, Superweasel

Bob Smiley Why did I love this book?

Who doesn’t like a kid trying to be a superhero? Alvin is assigned a pollution project for school. Instead of writing a paper or doing an art project, Alvin becomes a superhero who fights pollution in his small town.

Alvin is a kid in a small town with a giant imagination and we get to go along for the ride as he tries to expose the biggest polluter in town-the chemical plant. And he does it with a funny mask and cape. Growing up, I didn’t need Superman because I had Superweasel as my inspiration.  

By Clifford B. Hicks,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Alvin Fernald, Superweasel as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Alvin's pollution project is geared to expose the biggest polluter in town--the owner of the chemical plant.


Book cover of A Fine and Pleasant Misery

Bob Smiley Why did I love this book?

I grew up way out in the country. We had to drive 9 miles before we got to something called “a paved road.” So I spent my childhood roaming the woods fishing, hunting and camping. Then someone gave me A Fine and Pleasant Misery.

This book combined my two favorite things-laughing and the great outdoors. This book is a collection of funny stories about Pat as he takes us all back to nature with a hilarious look through a kid’s eyes who had never seen a video game but did run into some strange creatures. (Spoiler alert: giant mosquitos)

By Patrick F. McManus,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Fine and Pleasant Misery as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“A hilarious compilation” (Los Angeles Times), A Fine and Pleasant Misery gathers twenty-seven witty, cautionary tales of the outdoor life from beloved humorist Patrick F. McManus in a collection edited and introduced by Jack Samson, long-time editor-in-chief of Field & Stream.

The great outdoors have never been rendered as hysterically as in the reminiscences―true and exaggerated―of Patrick F. McManus. If you’re thinking about getting back to nature, the surreal adventures chronicled here will make you think twice about giving it all up for a life of camping, hiking, and hunting.


Book cover of Where the Red Fern Grows

Bob Smiley Why did I love this book?

This book is a classic.  It has heart, action, comedy and an awesome Grandpa who is always there with some wise wisdom.  Billy Coleman is a country kid growing up on a farm.  He decides he wants to get two Coonhounds and…well, I don’t want to spoil the tale.

I first read this book at age 12 and have read it once a year since then. If you grew up out in the country, like I did, with wide open skies, a big heart, and a little bit of mischief, this book is for you.  

By Wilson Rawls,

Why should I read it?

8 authors picked Where the Red Fern Grows as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Read the beloved classic that captures the powerful bond between man and man’s best friend. This edition also includes a special note to readers from Newbery Medal winner and Printz Honor winner Clare Vanderpool.
 
Billy has long dreamt of owning not one, but two, dogs. So when he’s finally able to save up enough money for two pups to call his own—Old Dan and Little Ann—he’s ecstatic. It doesn’t matter that times are tough; together they’ll roam the hills of the Ozarks.

Soon Billy and his hounds become the finest hunting team in the valley. Stories of their great achievements…


Book cover of Ramona Quimby, Age 8

Bob Smiley Why did I love this book?

As a boy growing up, I didn’t read a lot of books with girl leads. After all, they had cooties, and I might get them just reading about girls. However, my Mom convinced me to read this book. It was the first time I laughed out loud reading something.

Ramona is a very mischievous kid but with a big heart.  She knows what she’s supposed to do but something usually messes it up…and by “something” I mean her.   

By Beverly Cleary, Jacqueline Rogers (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Ramona Quimby, Age 8 as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

In this edition of the Newbery Honor Book Ramona Quimby, Age 8, the timeless classic features a special foreword written by actress, producer, and author Amy Poehler, as well as an exclusive interview with Beverly Cleary herself.

Ramona likes that she’s old enough to be counted on, but must everything depend on her? Mrs. Quimby has gone back to work so that Mr. Quimby can return to school, and Ramona is expected to be good for Mrs. Kemp while her parents are away, to be brave enough to ride the school bus by herself, and to put up with being…


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Subjugation: Zanchier

By SG Boudreaux,

Book cover of Subjugation: Zanchier

SG Boudreaux

New book alert!

What is my book about?

Harper Brinley is running for her life.

After escaping from a government holding facility where she, along with other scientists, was being forced to build a deadly weapon. She headed for the most remote place she could think of, the wild Xantifal Mountains.

The one place where no one would think to search for her. There, she found a massive hollowed tree in which to survive the harsh mountain winter. If she can survive the four-legged, fire-breathing firebirds and the equally large wildcats of the mountain ridge, then maybe she can find her way back to her children. She was…

Subjugation: Zanchier

By SG Boudreaux,

What is this book about?

Harper Brinley is running for her life. After escaping from a government holding facility, where she along with other scientists were being forced to build a deadly weapon, she headed for the most remote place she could think of, the wild Xantifal Mountains. The one place where no one would think to search for her. There she found a massive hollowed tree in which to survive the harsh mountain winter. If she can survive the four-legged, fire-breathing firebirds, and the equally large wildcats of the mountain ridge, then maybe she can find her way back to her children. She was…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in the Ozarks, fishing, and school?

11,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about the Ozarks, fishing, and school.

The Ozarks Explore 18 books about the Ozarks
Fishing Explore 23 books about fishing
School Explore 266 books about school