Part One: Books I Used to Make "Cryptograms from Coming-of-Age Classics"
BEHIND THE SCENESCOMING-OF-AGE
Jane Briar
5/29/20265 min read
Allow me to introduce you to a few of the most wholesome classics I’ve ever read.
If you've spent any time in my book Cryptograms from Coming-of-Age Classics, you probably already know that I have a type. Give me a plucky young heroine, a world that underestimates her, and a story where she finds her place in it — and I am completely, utterly obsessed.
The books I used for this collection of letter-substitution quote puzzles aren't necessarily all about childhood or adolescence in the traditional sense, but they do all share that essential coming-of-age spirit: characters who begin one way and end up somewhere richer, wiser, and more like themselves. Many of them also carry that particular magic that makes a book feel timeless — the kind of story that somehow reads just as true whether you're twelve or forty-two.
I wanted to write this post for the readers who solved a cryptogram, recognized a line, and thought: wait, where is that from? Or, even better: that's the most hopeful thing I've ever read and I need to find the whole book immediately.
Whether you grew up with these stories or you've somehow made it this far without meeting Mary Lennox, Jo March, or Pollyanna Whittier — first of all, you're in for a treat. Second of all, hi, welcome, I'm so glad you're here.
So here's a rundown of some of the books I referenced, along with my pitch for each one. A couple of these are absolute all-time favorites I'd press into the hands of any human who gives me an excuse to recommend a book. A few others are a little bit slower-paced, but still worth it.
Without further ado: the classics!
Little Women & Jo’s Boys, by Louisa May Alcott
This series is such a gem for all my favorite themes: finding one’s calling, warm sisterly friendship, and navigating situations that call for more resilience than you might expect for teenage girls. This one is devastating–if you know, you know–but still worth it. It’s easily an all-time-favorite for me, and resulted in a ton of quotes that feel relevant, even decades later.
Jo March is one of the characters to whom I attribute my fixation on writing books, even now. I owe a lot to this one, and I think you’ll find value in it too.
Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
This is a truly underrated option for those who are just finding the period drama genre through newer series like Bridgerton now. Cranford is all about a tiny English village run by genteel ladies. Its witty, it’s funny, and it’s utterly delightful. There’s also a miniseries on the BBC; if you’re not always one for classic books, that might be another way to enjoy this one.
Peter and Wendy by J. M. Barry
I’m not sure I’d ever actually read this book before this project, but I am SO glad I did! It follows the same storyline you’d expect from DIsney’s version, but with so much more character and substance. Wendy in particular gets a much better character arc in the book; rather than bland and bossy, she’s emotionally intelligent and wise. It’s a whole new story. And absolutely worth the short read!
Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
Don’t be fooled like I was–you might THINK you know Winnie-the-Pooh, but if what comes to mind is the cartoon, you are absolutely missing out on the warmest, silliest book to ever exist. Christopher Robin, Pooh, and all their animal friends’ adventures through the Hundred Acre Woods will have you absolutely enchanted if you give it a try. And hey-it’s another short one, so there’s no downside to giving it a try!
Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery
Montgomery is best known for Anne of Green Gables, but Emily of New Moon deserves just as much love. Emily Starr is a young orphan sent to live with her stern Murray relatives on Prince Edward Island after her father's death. She is dreamy, determined, and fiercely devoted to writing — perhaps the most literary of Montgomery's heroines. Where Anne charms people into loving her, Emily is pricklier and more internal, and her story has a slightly darker, more atmospheric quality as a result. The New Moon farm itself feels almost like a character, and the relationships Emily forms — particularly with the eccentric women around her — are beautifully drawn. If you've ever felt like a misfit who found belonging through words on a page, Emily's story will feel like it was written specifically for you.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
The book that launched one of the most beloved stories in American culture is brighter, breezier, and considerably stranger than the famous film adaptation. Dorothy is a practical, good-natured girl from Kansas who takes Oz largely in stride, which makes her an oddly charming heroine — she's not particularly awed by the magical world around her, she just wants to go home. The scarecrow, tin man, and lion are wonderful company, and the story has a joyful, inventive energy that makes it enormously fun to read.
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Sara Crewe arrives at Miss Minchin's London boarding school as a wealthy, imaginative, golden-haired girl who would rather think of herself as a princess — not because of money or status, but as a way of being in the world: with grace, dignity, and generosity, no matter the circumstances. When her fortunes reverse catastrophically, that philosophy is put to the test. Burnett writes Sara's fall from privilege and her determination to survive it with genuine emotional weight. This is a book about the power of inner life — of story, imagination, and refusing to let hardship make you bitter
What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge
Katy Carr is twelve years old, tall, untidy, full of grand plans for herself, and absolutely wonderful. She's the oldest of six siblings in a warm, chaotic household, and she dreams of doing something great someday — she's just not entirely sure what yet. What Katy Did is in some ways a classic Victorian moral tale, but Coolidge writes with enough humor and affection that it never feels preachy. When a serious accident forces Katy to slow down and reconsider what it means to grow up, the story deepens in ways that feel genuinely moving rather than didactic. The relationship between Katy and her gentle, wise cousin Helen is one of the loveliest in the genre. This is a book about patience, resilience, and becoming — and Katy's imperfect, exuberant personality makes every page of it a pleasure.
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Which one are you checking out first? Let me know in the comments if any of these sparked your interest. I’m dying to dissect these with you.
With love,
Jane
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Are you looking for another way to experience these coming-of-age classics?
Give Cryptograms from Coming-of-Age Classics a try. Solve the puzzle and be rewarded with a quote from one of the lovely titles listed here. Available now on Amazon.
Get the book here.
And if you’re hungry for more options, here’s the full list of works I used:
A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett
Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
Anne of Avonlea, L. M. Montgomery
Anne of Green Gables, L. M. Montgomery
Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
Cranford, Elizabeth Gaskell
Emily of New Moon, L. M. Montgomery
Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
Heidi, Johanna Spyri
Jo's Boys, Louisa May Alcott
Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
North and South, Elizabeth Gaskell
Peter and Wendy, J. M. Barry
Pollyanna, Eleanor H. Porter
Pollyanna Grows Up, Eleanor H. Porter
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Kate Douglas Wiggin
The House at Pooh Corner, A. A. Milne
The Land of the Blue Flower, Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum
Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll
What Katy Did, Susan Coolidge
What Katy Did Next, Susan Coolidge
Winnie-the-Pooh, A. A. Milne
Wives and Daughters, Elizabeth Gaskell