The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1883), penned by Mark Twain (real name Samuel Langhorne Clemens), is narrated by the clever and inventive Huck. In this tale, Huck, who is nearly an orphan and impoverished, becomes the story's moral compass amidst a world of hypocrisy and corruption. Defying the law, Huck forms a friendship with Jim, a runaway black slave, and faces an internal battle with his conscience while aiding Jim on his journey to freedom.

William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying (1930) chronicles the arduous journey of Anse Bundren and his children as they traverse Mississippi to bury their deceased wife and mother, Addie, in her hometown. The fragmented narrative unfolds through the interior monologues of fifteen distinct characters, including the Bundren offspring.

Sights Unseen by Kaye Gibbons (1995) is recounted by Hattie, who reflects from adulthood on the impact her mother's mental illness had on their family during her childhood. Much like Ellen Foster, twelve-year-old Hattie longs for normalcy and a sense of belonging, possessing wisdom beyond her years.

Dorothy E. Allison's novel Bastard Out of Carolina (1992) presents the first-person account of Bone, a young girl born illegitimately into a destitute South Carolina family, who suffers sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather. Bone's narrative conveys the keen insights of a girl navigating her coming-of-age.

Lost in the System (1996) by Charlotte Lopez, in collaboration with Susan Dworkin, tells the true story of Lopez's life as a foster child, moving from one home to another in search of love and stability. Despite her challenging beginnings, Lopez triumphed and went on to win the 1993 Miss Teen USA title.