Menu

Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog
Featured stories
Activity feed

Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of coming of age short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

6400+ Coming of age Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. No matter how old you are, there’s just something inherently relatable about coming-of-age tales. Discover the best new coming-of-age stories right here!

Coming of age Short Stories – Page 423 of 427

Summer Cousins

Submitted to Contest #53

There was magic in the lake.Grammy told me that. Of course, Grammy was a bit magic herself. Every year on the last day of summer, Grammy packed her picnic hamper, and together we’d carry it down to the old dock where the reeds were thin and the ducks liked to gather. We’d sit for hours with our feet dangling in the water, just Grammy and me, because I was the oldest and (I suspected), that made me the favorite. We’d eat cheese sandwiches wrapped in crinkled brown paper and thick slices of Great Aunt Millie’s angel food cake, which Gramm...

30 likes 12 comments 12
Read story

Ground Beneath My Feet vs. Ground Up In The Sky

Submitted to Contest #52

I used to be fascinated by the little blueish-white ball in the sky, rather than afraid. My first memory was of my mother teaching me that ground beneath my feet was called ‘earth’ and that ground in the sky was called ‘moon’. Through the glass we would gaze up at the moon, and Mum would tell me stories about the two million people that had gone to sleep in technologically decorated coffins beneath the surface just before the meteorite hit. Then Dad would tell me stories about the scouts that had flown to the moon to see if it was safe to ...

9 likes 2 comments 2
Read story

Tear it Down.

Submitted to Contest #51

I pushed open the black car door, but couldn't bear to bring myself to look up. I was too afraid of what might meet my eyes as I stepped out. But even looking down couldn't help me escape the horrible memories that haunted my past. My shiny cherry red heels clacked loudly on the blacktop the same as my years at school there. I immediately recognized the markings. The hopscotch lines they painted but never got used, the parking spaces people would use as lines for heated games of four square. A floodgate opened somewhere in my brain, trigg...

11 likes 1 comment 1
Read story

The past and present of David Mitchell

Submitted to Contest #51

                         21st July 2015.Equinox Village, Vermont.The time shown on David Mitchell’s digital alarm clock was about 5:00am. It wasn’t a completely unusual time to be awake, but it would be much better if he could sleep allot longer. David’s eyes were sealed shut but his mind was wide awake, and he knew trying to get some more shuteye was a waste of time. He flung off his blankets and rubbed...

7 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

Libra

Submitted to Contest #51

I looked up to see the sky with twinkling stars smiling down on me. I snorted when I noticed that I began making patterns and connecting random stars. I then see the constellation, Libra. I paused and thought about how different we were. She is said to be graceful and fair-minded while as I am clumsy and indecisive. I stretched my right arm as if trying to reach the sky. It's so far away. As if it's an unreachable goal. I let my arm down and let out a sigh. What a pretty sky. A rustle of leaves made me twist my body and rest on m...

18 likes 3 comments 3
Read story

Under the Stars

Submitted to Contest #51

“Ptolemy developed a geocentric model of the universe,” she said, “where this planet was the central point around which all other heavenly bodies revolved.” “Also did a lot for modern geography and cartography, but no one ever mentions that,” I mumbled. “And then Copernicus presented the heliocentric model—the truth—and was persecuted.” “Actually, his book was published almost posthumously. The real controversy began when Galileo agreed with it and angered the Catholic church.” “I’m trying to make a point,” she said flatly. “Oh, sorry. Is t...

9 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

Remember This

Submitted to Contest #51

If I could do it all over again I would cry. That’s the one thing I didn’t do, was cry. Now before you get excited, nobody died. This isn’t nearly so tragic as that. This, though, was the death of an era, a time in my childhood. I sit here in my bedroom, in a life that’s slowly erasing that little girl. She had thick brown hair, glasses, braces, and an active, creative mind. She wasn’t exactly a social butterfly, but she sure thought she was. She was innocent, but she liked to think that she was some sort of street-smart and savvy. Sometimes...

10 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

Blooming Amid Chaos

Submitted to Contest #51

We were young. Had only seen the world for a little over 10 years. Our simple minds only understood what could be added to our toy collection. It wasn’t exactly as fancy as one would imagine, but more enjoyable than the expensive stuff that we can find today. It included a huge wooden wheel from the stable, a plank of wood that we frequently used for making swings that could be hung on trees, a dirty doll that we refused to throw away for its emotional value, a rough chest that still bore the rough edges of wood that was cut to give it shape...

19 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

Leo

Submitted to Contest #51

The Leo constellation is my favourite. It’s also my star sign. I guess that is why it’s my favourite, Leo’s are self-centered and stubborn: I always get what I want. Don’t get me wrong, I worked for what I have. I was the valedictorian at high school, I had an enviable GPA and I got into Yale and Harvard on merit alone, but I had to sacrifice likeability. People who are loved get nowhere. Fact. So I ditched that sentimentality, for this: perched on a sunbed, at 2am in my parents immaculately landscaped garden, feet skimming cool, pool water ...

14 likes 1 comment 1
Read story

#My Crush#

Submitted to Contest #51

* Gazing at the dazzling lights that bring brightness to the dark night* I'd be fair to myself. I come in peace! *YOU* are my friend. Would it be am going off?Here, I have my pen and paperI need answers!On the mirror I see a reflection of me.Behind me is that face.Yes! That face .It's unclear* I can't comprehend.But I feel he is here.I hope he is and not as far as *YOU* the lights above my head.*******My instinct tells me you are not far but why then can't I reach you, Mr? Why stand behind me and your face unclear?Your image reflect on my mi...

35 likes 28 comments 28
Read story

Etta

Submitted to Contest #50

               “You are grounded for tonight.”                “But-!”                “You are forbidden from going to the festival.”                “Elvina!”                ...

9 likes 2 comments 2
Read story

The Wooden Cocoon

Submitted to Contest #50

She spent three days climbing the massive maple tree. She climbed in the rain, in the sun, and even at night, narrowly avoiding enormous cardinals and crows, hiding within the folds of the bark whenever the enemy loomed. Gusts of wind threatened to throw her from the tree a time or two, but she held tightly and persevered. After the long, tiring journey, she could finally rest. She perched herself on a high branch with plenty of wooded crevices in case the birds should return. The winged beasts would not likely be a problem, however, as th...

9 likes 4 comments 4
Read story

Last Lap

Submitted to Contest #50

Luke swerved on the next turn. He leaned dangerously sideways in his green Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R motorcycle, his gloved hand gripping the handles tightly. The wind was whipping violently against him while he endured pelts of rain that thrummed against his helmet. It's too late to slow down now. He thought his balance will fail when suddenly, the motorcycle righted itself and he sped away from the other racers. He was only five meters from the tail of the dark blue Ducati motorcycle but it seemed light years away. I must not lose here. Not ...

11 likes 0 comments 0
Read story

Tree House

Submitted to Contest #50

Do you also associate smells and tastes with memories? I might have an idea how our brain works. When we are eight, we hardly have enough references of the hardships that life is strewn through. As children, we are bestowed with the divine gift of non-judgement. Acceptance is all that a child knows and embraces everything that he has been divinely provided, with open arms and heart. I vividly remember that particular afternoon, of the many similar ones that I am blessed to have experienced during my childhood. The tree house, which was newly...

14 likes 5 comments 5
Read story

Nutso

Submitted to Contest #50

The grandfather clock struck 8 o’clock. Dinner was still not ready. The leftover taper candles rustled out from a drawer's depths were long extinguished. Greta passed her hand over the cavern of her shrinking belly, sighing in nervous relief. Hannah, meanwhile, fretted with the napkin, peering over the maze of crystal glasses, rapidly cooling gravy boats, potato tureens, and empty placemats. She tried not to, but the voices seeping through the corridor clutched the pit of her stomach. “That’s not how you sear chicken. Add more sour cream,” s...

36 likes 13 comments 13
Read story
RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

Bring your short stories to life

Fuse character, story, and conflict with tools in Reedsy Studio. All for free.