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Boys Growing Up Genre

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Books in the Boys Growing Up genre:

Oliver Twist (1838)

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Born in a workhouse, Oliver runs away from an abusive mistress to seek his fortune in London where he falls in with a gang of pickpockets. Read online at archive.org: Volume 1, and Volume 2, and Volume 3.... View More

Author(s): Charles Dickens
Illustrator(s): George Cruikshank

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The King of the Golden River (1851)

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The Southwest Wind, Esq. pays a visit to Hans, Schwartz and Gluck and things are never the same. Third and later editions have a modified frontispiece wherein the goblin has a conventional nose instead of a “hooter.” Read online at Intern... View More

Author(s): John Ruskin
Illustrator(s): Richard Doyle

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The Story of a Bad Boy (1870)

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A story of the author’s youth in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The highlights are the snowball battle on Slater’s hill and the celebration of the 4th of July. Read online at archive.org.... View More

Author(s): Thomas Bailey Aldrich
Illustrator(s): Anonymous

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The Peterkin Papers (1880)

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A collection of nonsense stories about the family of Peterkins who rely on the Lady from Philadelphia to extricate them from their troubles. read online at archive.org.... View More

Author(s): Lucretia P. Hale
Illustrator(s): Anonymous

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Wood Magic: A Fable (1881)

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In this woodland fantasy young Bevis can talk to the wild creatures. Read online at archive.org: Volume 1 and Volume 2.... View More

Author(s): Richard Jefferies
Illustrator(s): None

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Jackanapes (1883)

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A young British orphan grows up to be a Captain in a cavalry regiment and gives his life for his friend on the field of battle. Read online at archive.org.... View More

Author(s): Mrs. Juliana Horatia Ewing
Illustrator(s): Randolph Caldecott

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Daddy Darwin’s Dovecot: A Country Tale (1884)

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A pleasant story of a young orphan who is taken in as a servant, strives to do well through honesty and hard work, and ultimately succeeds, inheriting his master’s dovecot and doves. Read online at Hathitrust.... View More

Author(s): Mrs. Juliana Horatia Ewing
Illustrator(s): Randolph Caldecott

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Lob Lie-by-the-Fire (1885)

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John Broom is found under a bush as a baby and adopted by two maiden ladies. After running away to sea he at last returns home. Read online at archive.org.... View More

Author(s): Mrs. Juliana Horatia Ewing
Illustrator(s): Randolph Caldecott

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The Last of the Peterkins with Others of Their Kin (1886)

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In these further adventures of a muddleheaded family, the Lady from Philadelphia again comes to their aid.

Author(s): Lucretia P. Hale
Illustrator(s): Anonymous

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Prince Ricardo of Pantouflia (1893)

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Having found his father King Prigio’s magic gifts, Ricardo becomes reckless and has to seek assistance from the Princess Jaqueline. Read online at archive.org.... View More

Author(s): Andrew Lang
Illustrator(s): Gordon Browne

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“Captains Courageous” A Story of the Grand Banks (1897)

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Harvey Cheyne falls overboard from his liner on the Grand Banks and is picked up by a cod fisherman who proceeds to make a man of him. Read online at archive.org.... View More

Author(s): Rudyard Kipling
Illustrator(s): I. W. Taber

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His First and Last Appearance (1900)

His First and Last Appearance Francis J. Finn, S.j. book cover

This story tells of the fates and fortunes of the Lachance family.

Read online at archive.org

Author(s): Francis J. Finn, S.J.
Illustrator(s): None

Kim (1901)

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Kim O’Hara grows up unsupervised in British India and is recruited into the secret service. Read online at archive.org.

Author(s): Rudyard Kipling
Illustrator(s): John Lockwood Kipling

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The Wouldbegoods: Being the Further Adventures of the Treasure Seekers (1901)

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After being sent to the country “to learn to be good”, the Bastable children and their two friends form the Society of the Wouldbegoods, but continue to become involved in adventures.

Author(s): E. Nesbit
Illustrator(s): Reginald Birch

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Five Children and It (1902)

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Five children on holiday discover a sand fairy in a local quarry -- and it grants their wishes, with sometimes surprising results. Download our free ebook: EPUB. This is for ebook readers. Click the button, and the ePub file will go to your default ... View More

Author(s): E. Nesbit
Illustrator(s): H. R. Millar
Et al

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The Phoenix and the Carpet (1904)

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The five children who discovered It find a Phoenix’ egg rolled up in a magic carpet and hatch it in the nursery fireplace. Read online at gutenberg.org.... View More

Author(s): E. Nesbit
Illustrator(s): H. R. Millar

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The Railway Children (1906)

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When their father is taken away by strangers, the lives of three children are altered forever. They move with their mother to a cottage by a railway. The railway becomes their playground, and they befriend the rail workers and passengers who eventual... View More

Author(s): E. Nesbit
Illustrator(s): Unknown

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The Story of the Amulet (1906)

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The five children re-encounter the Psammead—the “It” in Five Children and It. As it no longer grants wishes to the children, however, its capacity is mainly advisory in relation to the children’s other discovery, the Amulet. R... View More

Author(s): E. Nesbit
Illustrator(s): H. R. Millar

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The Prodigious Hickey (1909)

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The first of the boarding school stories set at Lawrenceville in the era after the end of caning, when “between masters and students there was an armed and exceedingly wary neutrality.” Read online at archive.org.... View More

Author(s): Owen Johnson
Illustrator(s): May Wilson Preston
Henry Raleigh
Frederic Dorr Steele

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Prester John (1910)

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A young Scot goes out to South Africa where he becomes caught up in a native rebellion. This is a later American edition.

Author(s): John Buchan
Illustrator(s): Henry C. Pitz

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