Vampire Academy Coming of Age

Rose's coming of age—her transition from kid novice to adult guardian—is packed with drama: she fights off psi-hounds, goes to a magic school, discovers the secret behind St. Vladimir and shadow-kissed Anna, rescues her friend from kidnappers, and even dies… and then comes back to life. We guess growing up is rough for everybody. In Vampire Academy, Rose starts out as a proud and dangerous girl with a sassy mouth, but over the course of the novel, she learns to be a little more selfless and responsible (while still kicking Strigoi butt, of course). Through her trials, Rose learns what her place is in the world.

Questions About Coming of Age

1. The novel gives us flashbacks to what Rose was like before she and Lissa ran away from the Academy. How is this character different from the Rose we see in the present? How is she the same?
2. In what ways does Rose mature and in what ways does she stay a kid? How does her parents' absence play into this?
3. What is the hardest part about growing up for Rose? Why?
4. By the end of the book, is Rose still a kid? Or has she made her way into adulthood?
   

Chew on This

Even though Rose likes to goof off like a kid, she grows up by thinking through and dealing with very adult problems—depression, suicide, and death.

Rose wants to stay a kid for as long as possible so she doesn't have to accept the responsibly and burden of being a guardian.