Books About Chronic Illness

The Best Chronic Illness Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about chronic illness? 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 Chronic Illness

Five Feet Apart
Sale price
$1139
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2018

Five Feet Apart

By Rachael Lippincott

Two teens fall in love but must stay apart to survive. Can love bridge the distance between them?

304 pages· 61,382 words· Est. 5.5 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 266,911 ratings
$11.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Stella and Will, both battling cystic fibrosis, must keep a safe distance to protect their fragile health. Stella's life depends on a lung transplant, while Will dreams of freedom beyond hospital walls. As their connection deepens, the mandated six feet apart feels like a cruel barrier. Can they risk everything for a chance at love, or will the distance keep them safe but heartbroken? Discover if five feet apart is worth the risk in this poignant tale of love and survival.
Fight + Flight
Sale price
$1597
Chapter Book · Ages 10–+ · 2022

Fight + Flight

By Jules Machias

Two very different middle schoolers help each other through illness and panic.

400 pages
4.2 Goodreads · 398 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Avery lives for her dirt bike and drums, until a diagnosis of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome fills her days with physical therapy and worry. Sarah pours her intense panic attacks into her art, but nothing seems to help. When a terrifying event at school, later revealed to be an active-shooter drill, throws them together, the two girls form a friendship that changes how they see their own weaknesses.
After Ever After
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2010

After Ever After

By Jordan Sonnenblick · Book #2 in the Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie series

A teen in remission faces life's fragility, family secrets, and unexpected love.

Schneider Family Book Award (2011)
260 pages· 45,742 words· Est. 4.5 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 11,745 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Jeffrey, now a teen in remission, grapples with life's fragility and lingering effects of cancer. His brother Steven's escape to Africa leaves Jeffrey angry and searching for answers. As he navigates school struggles, a secretive friend, and a girl who sees beyond his limp, Jeffrey must confront his fears and find his own path. Will he uncover the truth and embrace the future, or will the shadows of the past hold him back?
Turtle Boy
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2020

Turtle Boy

By M. Evan Wolkenstein

A boy faces fears to fulfill a friend's dying wishes.

Sydney Taylor Book Award (2021)
400 pages· 74,343 words· Est. 8.5 hour read
4.3 Goodreads · 2,071 ratings
Paperback
Summary: Will Levine, bullied for his appearance, dreads visiting RJ, a boy with an incurable disease, for his bar mitzvah project. Initially at odds, RJ shares his bucket list, urging Will to step out of his comfort zone. As RJ's condition worsens, Will embarks on a journey to complete the list, discovering courage and friendship along the way. Can Will overcome his fears and honor RJ's dreams before time runs out?
Soar
Sale price
$1597
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2016

Soar

By Joan Bauer

A young baseball fan must revive a town's spirit and team amidst scandal.

304 pages· 45,661 words· Est. 5 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 3,744 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Jeremiah, a heart transplant recipient and baseball enthusiast, moves to Hillcrest with his father. Unable to play, he aims to coach a team in a town disheartened by scandal. With only sixty days, can Jeremiah's optimism and love for the game reignite the town's passion for baseball? Discover how one boy's determination might just change everything.
Will on the Inside
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2023

Will on the Inside

By Andrew Eliopulos

A sidelined soccer player starts figuring out who he really is.

304 pages
4.1 Goodreads · 367 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Will loves playing center midfield on his middle school soccer team, but this year he has no energy and his stomach keeps hurting. A diagnosis of Crohn's disease and medicines with side effects keep him out of practice and away from his friends. Spending time with Griffin, a boy who just asked Will's best friend to the spring dance, makes Will start asking questions about himself that his teammates and his religious Georgia town might not welcome.
The First to Die at the End
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 13–+ · 2022

The First to Die at the End

By Adam Silvera · They Both Die at the End series

Two strangers face a life-changing day when one receives a call predicting their death.

550 pages· 105,433 words· Est. 10 hour read
4.0 Goodreads · 130,315 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: On the eve of Death-Cast's launch, Orion, burdened by a heart condition, and Valentino, seeking a fresh start, meet in Times Square. As the first End Day calls are made, one receives the ominous message, altering their paths forever. Bound by uncertainty, they choose to spend their final hours together, forging a connection that defies fate. Will their day end in heartbreak, or will they find meaning in the moments they share? Discover a tale of love, destiny, and the profound impact of fleeting encounters.
PAWS: Hazel Has Her Hands Full
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$2184
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2025

PAWS: Hazel Has Her Hands Full

By Nathan Fairbairn, Michele Assarasakorn (Illustrator) · Book #4 in the Paws series

Can Hazel handle pet-sitting alone, or will chaos force her to seek help?

176 pages· 10,303 words· Est. 2 hour read
4.4 Goodreads · 511 ratings
$22.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Summer's here, and Hazel is ready for a pet-sitting adventure. With friends away and her mom's watchful eye, she takes on the challenge solo. But as she juggles cats, dogs, and her own therapy, disaster looms. Can Hazel prove her independence, or will she need to ask for help and face the consequences? Dive into a summer of secrets, surprises, and self-discovery.
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