Harper Lee's memoir, 'To Kill a Mockingbird', published in 1960, is set in a small town in Alabama during the Great Depression and explores themes of racism, prejudice, and moral growth.

Jeannette Walls' father, Rex Walls, was a charismatic and intelligent man who struggled with alcoholism and gambling addiction. His unconventional parenting style and nomadic lifestyle greatly influenced Jeannette's childhood and adolescence.

Maya Angelou's memoir, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings', published in 1969, is a powerful and moving account of her childhood and adolescence, marked by poverty, racism, and sexual abuse. The memoir explores themes of identity, resilience, and the power of storytelling.

Frank McCourt's father, Malachy McCourt, was a heavy drinker who struggled to find steady employment. His alcoholism and abusive behavior had a profound impact on Frank's childhood and adolescence.

J.D. Salinger's memoir, 'The Catcher in the Rye', published in 1951, is a coming-of-age story that follows the experiences of 16-year-old Holden Caulfield as he navigates adolescence and grapples with themes of identity, belonging, and authenticity.

Tara Westover's father, Val Westover, was a survivalist who believed that the end of the world was imminent. He isolated his family from society and homeschooled his children, depriving them of a formal education.

Augusten Burroughs' memoir, 'Running with Scissors', published in 2002, is a darkly humorous and poignant account of his childhood and adolescence, marked by abuse, neglect, and mental illness. The memoir explores themes of identity, family, and the search for belonging.

Dave Pelzer's mother, Catherine Pelzer, was a deeply disturbed and abusive woman who subjected her son to unimaginable cruelty and neglect. Her actions had a profound and lasting impact on Dave's childhood and adolescence.

Carolyn Forché's memoir, 'The Country Between Us', published in 1981, is a powerful and moving account of her childhood and adolescence in a strict religious community, her experiences as a young poet, and her eventual break from her faith. The memoir explores themes of identity, belonging, and the search for meaning.

Mary Karr's father, J.T. Karr, was an alcoholic who struggled to hold a steady job. His drinking and abusive behavior had a profound impact on Mary's childhood and adolescence.

Junot Díaz's memoir, 'The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao', published in 2007, is a coming-of-age story that follows the experiences of Oscar de León as he navigates adolescence and grapples with themes of identity, family, and the Dominican diaspora.

Susanna Kaysen was admitted to McLean Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, at the age of 18. Her memoir, 'Girl, Interrupted', published in 1993, is a powerful and moving account of her experiences as a teenage patient in the hospital.

Tim McGraw's memoir, 'Grit & Grace', published in 2009, is a candid and inspiring account of his childhood and adolescence, marked by poverty, abuse, and neglect. The memoir explores themes of resilience, determination, and the power of music.

Alice Walker's father, Fonso Walker, was a sharecropper who struggled to make ends meet. His relationship with Alice's mother was strained, and he eventually abandoned the family.

Ta-Nehisi Coates' memoir, 'Between the World and Me', published in 2015, is a powerful and moving account of his experiences growing up as a black man in America. The memoir explores themes of race, identity, and the search for meaning in a racially divided society.