The maturation and psychological development of a protagonist is a common theme, frequently explored in many contemporary novels due to the complexity of the topic and the various potential ways how the topic could be approached. As a result, the genre of the Bildungsroman, centered around this concept, is particularly popular for both readers and authors. The genre deals with the maturation process of the protagonist, who is exposed to many influences, whether it be culture, religion, family, friendships, gender roles, oppression, trauma, sexuality, education, and others. In his novel The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini explores the development of the main character Amir from his childhood in Afghanistan to his adolescence in the United States. In the novel, Amir’s maturation is shaped primarily by the people in his life, the sense of guilt, and his desire for redemption. Similarly, Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street follows the journey of Esperanza, a young girl of Mexican descent living in Chicago. The formation of her personality is affected by her surroundings, poverty, marginalization, and gender roles. The aim of this thesis is to present The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros as the examples of the Bildungsroman novels, where the main protagonists display a transformed character by the end of the novel, challenged by many obstacles along their journey, and shaped by many external and internal influences like family relationships, culture, friendship, trauma, and marginalization.