First published 1945
Augustus faces the everyday challenges of growing up in mid-century America. The young boy encounters the complexities of family relationships, friendships, and the adult world around him. As Augustus moves through his daily experiences, he must learn to understand the people in his life and find his place among them. Bishop presents a child's perspective on the social expectations and moral questions that shape his small community. Augustus discovers that the adult world contains both kindness and disappointment, and that growing up means making sense of these contradictions. The story captures the universal experience of childhood's end, when innocence meets the realities of human nature and social responsibility.
Genres: american-fiction, 20th-century, american, coming-of-age
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Setting: America, Mid-Century
Period: Mid-Century
Hardcover · Viking Juvenile