Kim is the coming-of-age story of an adolescent boy and his quest to find himself. All through the story, Kim seeks out mentors to fulfill his unstated desire for a parental figure in his life.

The first mentor is a Tibetan lama. Kim is fascinated by the wandering stranger. He accompanies the lama to discover the meaning of a prophecy his father made. They start the journey in Lahore and go across the plains to reach Benares. Their quest ends with a spectacular trip to the Himalayas. The journey takes Kim from the age of 13 to 14 years old.

Immediately after the lama, Kim meets the second father figure, Colonel Creighton. Creighton is a wise, educated, experienced, and compassionate man. He recognizes Kim's abilities and skills. He plays a significant and influential role in Kim's life. The boisterous Mahbub Ali and the resourceful Hurree Babu are Creighton's agents. They train Kim for his future role as a spy.

Kim's next mentor is Lurgan, a practitioner of the occult sciences. He teaches Kim the importance of mental strength and discipline. This training is vital in the eventuality that Kim is captured and interrogated by enemies.