As you move into the transition between adolescence and adulthood, there are many lessons to learn. You start to take on adult responsibilities and make adult choices, yet you have not entirely grown up from the child you were. You must grow up before your teenage years are even over. That transition is a difficult one to make, and some find success easier than others. Lessons like what kinds of people you want to be friends with and what kind of person you want to be are not easily learned, but they can be with a little help. Often, our own experience is augmented by those which we read in books; the characters’ mistakes teach us what not to do. In the spirit of lessons learned through literature, here are five young adult books to aid you in your transition into college and adulthood.

1. "Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell

This book is for those who live their lives wrapped up in the world inside their heads, and who fear the unknown future before them. Just as our protagonist learns how to create her place in the world, so too might you.

2. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky

No doubt you have heard of this book, perhaps even seen the movie. The book itself is worth picking up because of how well you get inside Charlie’s head. This book is a lesson in friendship and in facing your problems, no matter how large or frightening.

3. "Looking For Alaska" by John Green

This book is another investigation of friendship, and it carries priceless lessons about valuing the people in your life while you still have them.

4. "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins

If I’m being totally honest, you could pick up any of Ellen Hopkins’ books and find similar lessons within them. "Crank" in particular shines light on one tragic reality of the world we live in—as her other books deal with different aspects of the sad reality of life—and also investigates how one simple choice may spiral out of control.

5. "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger

While you may prefer "To Kill A Mockingbird," Holden Caulfield’s coming-of-age story is more applicable to the aforementioned transition between adolescence and adulthood, as Holden exists somewhere in the middle of those two categories. Though he calls the whole world phony, there is something to be learned in the way this boy struggles with his own changing identity.These five books won’t give you all the answers. They may even make you ask more questions about who you are becoming as you grow. But the best lessons are the ones you ultimately have to figure out for yourself. So do adult-you a favor and crack open a book or two this summer, before you’re thrust into the crazy world of growing up.