Grief is so challenging, especially when you’re young. Losing a loved one, a beloved pet, or even a home is a life-altering experience that, unfortunately, many of us face for the first time in our earliest years. These wonderful and empathetic books are here to guide readers young and old through the process of grief, and remind them that they are never alone.
Eleven-year-old Birdy and her younger brother, Mouse have always looked out for each other. After their mother dies of cancer, they are forced to move in with relatives they’ve never met before, but they can’t get too comfortable because by the next school year, they will be placed in a permanent home, whether they want to leave or not. As the summer unfolds this heartfelt story explores the unbreakable bond between siblings, and how family can be found in even the most unexpected places.
Grief is not only devastating but can be incredibly frightening. When you lose someone important, you muster a lot of courage to make it through. While Cala is getting ready for the Día de Muertos party, she is really missing her grandfather and tries to pretend that she’s not afraid. At the party when she is separated from her family at the cemetery, Cala encounters four mysterious riders who show her she is quite brave after all. With humor and heart this book helps kids and adults alike in processing their grief.
When we lose someone we love, it changes the way we think and look at the world. Whether it be in our relationships, our adventures, or simple day to day tasks. When Maddy loses someone very important to her, she begins to see danger in everything around her. Her mom tries to help rebuild her confidence with routines and exercises to ease the worry, but this isn’t something she feels she can move on from. Things change when a local boy goes missing, and Maddy finds a new purpose: find him. As Maddy begins to uncover the truth her own past comes to light. She, and the reader learn about grief, family, and putting the pieces back together.
Death is not something that we easily understand—it is an unfair part of life that we often try and make sense of. When Suzy loses her best friend in a tragic drowning accident, she does just that. She retreats into a silent world where only her imagination, ideas about the world around her, and jellyfish exist. Suzy’s achingly heartfelt journey explores life, death, the astonishing wonder of the universe…and the potential for love and hope right next door.
I remember so vividly the first time I lost a pet. Her name was Mocha, and she was a fluffy cat whose fur was the color of a “mocha cappuccino” ––aka a mocha. I was heartbroken. Fortunately, today we have The Invisible Leash, which reminds us that their beloved animal friends are always with us, even after they are no longer physically here.
This truly touching intergenerational story follows Hilda and Hazel through the seasons. Hazel’s broom whisks the dust off many years of joyful memories, and young Hilda watches them come to life. And, when Hazel is no longer there, the memories live on in Hilda. This sweet and compassionate book is the perfect companion for any grieving child—especially one missing a grandparent.
Final goodbyes can evoke a spectrum of emotions. Some people might feel confused. Or angry. They might not want to talk. They might want to distract themselves. There is no one way to deal with grief. But luckily, Todd Parr knows that and imparts this knowledge with his go-to bright colors and gentle sense of humor. Both funny and sad, metaphorical and literal, The Goodbye Book reminds kids that there is always someone who loves them—someone who will help them through their loss.
Healing is a complex process, but learning to heal makes us so much stronger. At least, that’s what Amie discovers after her father dies, and her ability to play music dies, too. The violin was her father’s favorite instrument, and the notes that once flowed freely from Amie’s instrument are now stilted and sharp. But with the help and love of the people around her, Amie learns that healing, while painful, can be its own miraculous song.
Sometimes, when your world is falling part, the most logical path forward is to act like everything is normal. But that can only last so long, Iris learns. Her father is dying, and none of her friends know. At school, her life is seemingly normal, while at home, it’s anything but. In a sea of rage and grief, Iris resolves to speak out against the rampant fear, misinformation, and prejudice surrounding AIDS and learns to put the shattered fragments of her world back together.
Ghost Boys is not only a heartbreaking and powerful story about a black boy killed by a police officer, but also a gripping and poignant story about how children and families face the complexities of today’s world. It’s about Jerome, shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat, and how he grows to understand American blackness in the aftermath of his own death. It’s about individual grief, and collective grief, and the responsibility of those who live on.
You can’t rush the grieving process or the healing process. Pain evolves on its own schedule. After the death of his sister, Zack struggles to find comfort in his new home. But slowly, he begins discovering the mysterious landmarks of Vista Point and becomes immersed in the town’s secrets. With emotional depth, an unforgettable setting, and a winning cast of characters, this novel explores the grieving process and how a season of pain can evolve into a summer of healing.
