Books About Abandonment

The Best Abandonment Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about abandonment? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 8 Favorite Books About Abandonment

Sweep
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

Sweep

By Jonathan Auxier

An orphaned chimney sweep discovers a mysterious ally in a soot golem.

The E.B. White Read Aloud Honor (2019)Sydney Taylor Book Award (2019)
384 pages· 68,077 words· Est. 9.5 hour read
4.5 Goodreads · 13,624 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Orphaned Nan Sparrow, trapped in a dangerous chimney fire, awakens in an attic with a soot-made golem. Together, they navigate a harsh world, forging an unlikely bond. Can this duo of outcasts find hope and a new life amid the shadows of Victorian London? As Nan learns to trust and love, she discovers strength in vulnerability. Dive into a tale of friendship and resilience where a girl and her monster defy the odds to save each other.
Alone
Sale price
$1797
Chapter Book · Ages 10–12 · 2021

Alone

By Megan E. Freeman

Alone in an evacuated town, a girl must survive against all odds.

404 pages· 28,839 words· Est. 3 hour read
4.1 Goodreads · 24,623 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Twelve-year-old Maddie wakes to find her Colorado town mysteriously abandoned. With only a loyal Rottweiler and books for company, she must navigate natural disasters, looters, and wild animals. As loneliness looms, can Maddie's resilience help her endure this eerie solitude? Discover her journey of survival and self-discovery in a world left behind.
Hooper Finds a Family
Sale price
$674
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2011

Hooper Finds a Family

By Jane Paley

A puppy's journey from disaster to a new home tests his courage and spirit.

144 pages· 28,866 words· Est. 4 hour read
4.1 Goodreads · 297 ratings
$6.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Hooper, a resilient puppy, survives Hurricane Katrina and embarks on a daring journey from New Orleans to New York. Facing fears and neighborhood challenges, he seeks a place to call home. Can Hooper overcome his past and find belonging in a new world? This heartwarming tale of survival and courage explores the power of new beginnings and the bonds that heal.
Tallahassee Higgins
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 10–12 · 1987

Tallahassee Higgins

By Mary Downing Hahn, James Cross Giblin

Sent to live with relatives, a girl insists her mother will come back.

192 pages· 42,316 words· Est. 4.5 hour read
4.0 Goodreads · 781 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Tallahassee Higgins's mother, Liz, has gone to California to chase a movie career, leaving Talley with her aunt and uncle in Maryland. Aunt Thelma says Liz is gone for good, but Talley is sure her mother will return. Failing sixth grade and called a liar at school, she clings to her hopes until she must face the truth about her mother and find where she belongs.
Here Today
Sale price
$284
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2004

Here Today

By Ann M. Martin

When her mother leaves to chase fame, an eleven-year-old must hold her family together.

308 pages· 60,917 words· Est. 7 hour read
3.9 Goodreads · 1,537 ratings
$2.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In 1963, eleven-year-old Ellie Dingman lives in small-town Spectacle, New York, with an off-center family. Her mother dreams only of becoming a rich and famous actress, and when that dream takes her away from home, Ellie has to take charge of her younger siblings as she starts sixth grade in a year of upheaval.
Hansel and Gretel
Sale price
$1697
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1812

Hansel and Gretel

By Brothers Grimm, Bernadette Watts (Illustrator)

Lost in the woods, two siblings face a witch's deadly trap. Can they outsmart her?

32 pages· 1,841 words· Est. 15 min read-aloud
4.2 Goodreads · 36 ratings
$17.95Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Abandoned in a dark forest, Hansel and Gretel stumble upon a house made of sweets. But the old woman inside has sinister plans. As they face the threat of the witch's oven, the siblings must rely on their wits to escape and find their way back to their father. Will their cleverness be enough to outsmart the witch and survive the enchanted forest? This classic tale of danger and cunning is vividly brought to life with stunning illustrations, capturing the peril and allure of a world where nothing is as it seems.
Hansel and Gretel
Sale price
$1697
Picture Book · Ages 6–8 · 2009

Hansel and Gretel

By Rachel Isadora

Lost in a jungle, two siblings face a witch's deadly trap.

32 pages· 870 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud
4.8/7 Bookroo·3.8/5 Goodreads · 274 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: In a vibrant African forest, two siblings, Hansel and Gretel, find themselves ensnared in a witch's sinister plot. As they navigate the dense jungle, danger lurks at every turn. Can they outsmart the witch and escape her clutches, or will the forest become their final resting place? This reimagined fairy tale weaves suspense and adventure into a rich tapestry of survival and cunning.
The Forgotten Toys
Picture Book · 1996

The Forgotten Toys

By Graham Ralph

Two discarded toys set off on a journey to find a child who will love them again.

32 pages
4.5 Goodreads · 13 ratings
Paperback
Summary: On the night after Christmas, Teddy, a gruff old bear, and Annie, a rag doll, wake up in dustbins: their children have new toys and don't want them anymore. Together they set off to find children who will love and care for them. Based on the animated television special.
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