A nostalgic, witty, and heartfelt memoir capturing one teenager’s unforgettable journey through friendship, music, first love, and coming-of-age in the 1960s.
Bob Greene invites readers into his own high school years, sharing the diary he kept as a teenager—funny, earnest, awkward, and wonderfully relatable. Through music, friendships, misadventures, and the culture of the 1960s, Greene paints an honest portrait of growing up during a decade of rapid change.
Be True to Your School is a warm, often humorous look at Bob Greene’s coming-of-age, told through the real journal entries he wrote while attending high school in suburban Ohio. Each entry captures the raw emotion of adolescence—first dates, heartbreak, rivalries, part-time jobs, road trips, and the soundtrack that defined a generation.
Greene’s personal reflections reveal not only his own growth, but a vivid cultural snapshot of mid-century America. The book offers a timeless look at the universal experience of being a teenager: the desire to belong, the thrill of independence, and the moments that shape who we become.
This memoir resonates with anyone who remembers the bittersweet pang of growing up, making mistakes, finding themselves, and holding onto friendships that last a lifetime.
💖 Why You’ll Love It
Genuine, funny, and heartfelt diary-style storytelling
A nostalgic trip into 1960s American life
Perfect blend of humor, humanity, and reflection
Relatable coming-of-age experiences
An excellent pick for readers who enjoy memoirs with warmth and personality
🌟 Perfect For
Fans of personal memoirs and diaries
Readers who enjoy 1960s nostalgia
Anyone who loves heartwarming coming-of-age stories
Book clubs seeking reflective, conversation-friendly reading
Fans of Bob Greene’s journalism and other memoirs
❤️ Fans Also Liked
Growing Up by Russell Baker
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
All Over but the Shoutin’ by Rick Bragg
Be True to Your School by Bob Greene
- Title: Be True to Your School
- Author: Bob Greene
- Primary & Secondary Genres: Biographies / Family Drama / Coming-of-Age / Non-Fiction
- Publication Year: 1987
- Publisher: Book Club Edition
- ISBN: (Book Club Edition – no ISBN)
- Format: Hardcover (Book Club Edition)
- Language: English
- Condition: Very Good — clean copy with light shelf wear
- Edition: Book Club Edition
- Recommended Reading Age: Adult & Teens 14+

