Books About Family Separation

The Best Family Separation Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about family separation? 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.

#1 in Series

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Family Separation

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 9–13 · 2015

A Night Divided

By Jennifer A. Nielsen

A girl risks everything to escape East Berlin and reunite her divided family.

352 pages· 71,577 words· Est. 8 hour read

4.3 Goodreads · 49,919 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In a city split by the Berlin Wall, Gerta's family is torn apart. Trapped in East Berlin, she discovers a daring plan to tunnel to freedom. With soldiers watching and trust scarce, Gerta and her brother Fritz must decide if they can risk everything for a chance to reunite their family. Will they succeed, or will the wall claim another victim? This gripping tale of courage and hope unfolds in a world where every move could be their last.

Sale price

$1697

Picture Book · Ages 10–13 · 2020

Box

By Carole Boston Weatherford, Michele Wood (Illustrator)

A man risks everything to escape slavery by mailing himself to freedom.

Newbery Honor (2021)

56 pages· 3,020 words· Est. 24 min read-aloud

6.0/7 Bookroo·4.1/5 Goodreads · 856 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Henry Brown, born into slavery, loses his family to the cruel trade. With nothing left, he devises a daring escape plan: shipping himself in a box to freedom. As he navigates the perilous journey, aided by the Underground Railroad, will he find the liberty he seeks? This powerful narrative, told in poetic stanzas, captures the resilience and courage of a man determined to reclaim his life. Vivid illustrations and historical context enrich this tale of hope and defiance.

Sale price

$1899

Picture Book · Ages 7–11 · 2023

Stars of the Night

By Caren Stelson, Selina Alko (Illustrator)

Children escape war-torn Prague, seeking safety and uncover a hero's identity decades later.

40 pages· 1,652 words· Est. 13 min read-aloud

4.5 Goodreads · 641 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: On the brink of World War II, 669 children flee Prague on the Kindertransport, leaving behind everything familiar. As they seek refuge in Britain, they face the haunting reality of their parents' fate. Decades later, they uncover the identity of the man who orchestrated their rescue. This poignant tale of survival and courage reveals the enduring impact of one man's selfless act amidst the horrors of war. Will they find solace in the truth of their past?

Sale price

$958

Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 1996

Train to Somewhere

By Eve Bunting, Ronald Himler (Illustrator)

A young girl travels on the Orphan Train in search of a new home and a chance to reunite with her mother

32 pages· 2,656 words· Est. 21 min read-aloud

4.2 Goodreads · 897 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Marianne rides the Orphan Train, clinging to her mother's promise to reunite. As each station passes without a sign of her, hope dims. Will the final stop, a mysterious town called Somewhere, bring the reunion she longs for, or will it mark the end of her journey alone? With no family stepping forward, Marianne's future hangs in the balance. Can she find belonging in a world that seems to have forgotten her?

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$858

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2002

The Children of Willesden Lane

By Mona Golabek, Lee Cohen

A young pianist's music becomes her lifeline amid war's chaos.

224 pages· 37,199 words· Est. 5 hour read

4.3 Goodreads · 4,140 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In war-torn Vienna, 14-year-old Lisa Jura's dreams of becoming a concert pianist are shattered. Sent to London alone via the Kindertransport, she clings to her music as a beacon of hope. Separated from her family, Lisa's journey unfolds in a refugee home on Willesden Lane, where her talent inspires others. Will her music be enough to reunite her with her loved ones? Discover a tale of courage, survival, and the transformative power of music in this moving memoir.

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2020

The Mutant Mushroom Takeover

By Summer Rachel Short · Book #1 in the Maggie and Nate Mysteries series

A mutant fungus threatens a town. Can two friends solve the mystery?

250 pages· 49,776 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

4.3 Goodreads · 173 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Maggie, an aspiring naturalist, and her YouTuber friend Nate discover a strange fungus in Shady Pines. As animals mutate and her brother falls ill, Maggie must unravel the mystery to save her town. With her scientific skills and Nate's spooky insights, they face a growing threat. Can they stop the glowing mushrooms before it's too late?

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

Land of the Cranes

By Aida Salazar

A young girl clings to hope and poetry in a detention camp, seeking family unity.

Americas Award (2021)Jane Addams Children's Book Honor (2021)

256 pages· 22,597 words· Est. 3 hour read

4.5 Goodreads · 2,607 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Nine-year-old Betita believes she is a crane, destined to return to her ancestral land. But when her father is deported and she and her pregnant mother are detained in a camp, Betita must find strength in her poetry to endure the harsh conditions. As she navigates the cruelty of the detention center, Betita's imagination and the bonds with fellow detainees become her lifeline. Can her spirit and words keep her family from being torn apart forever? Discover the resilience of a young girl in a world that seeks to cage her dreams.

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2016

A Long Pitch Home

By Natalie Dias Lorenzi

A young immigrant navigates baseball and friendships, hoping to reunite with his father.

256 pages· 61,534 words· Est. 7 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 388 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Ten-year-old Bilal, a Pakistani immigrant, struggles to adapt to life in America. As he joins a baseball league to impress his absent father, he faces challenges on and off the field. Balancing new friendships, especially with Jordan, the team's outcast, Bilal hopes his efforts will bring his family together. Can he find his place in this unfamiliar world and prove himself on the pitcher's mound?

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2012

Hidden

By Loic Dauvillier, Marc Lizano (Illustrator)

A grandmother reveals her hidden past in Nazi-occupied Paris to her granddaughter.

Sydney Taylor Book Award (2015)

80 pages· 165 words· Est. 3 min read

4.2 Goodreads · 7,753 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Dounia shares a secret tale with her granddaughter, one even her son doesn't know. As a Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied Paris, she was hidden by brave neighbors while her parents were taken away. As World War II ends, Dounia reunites with her mother, and in present-day France, she finally opens up to her granddaughter. What truths will emerge from this poignant family history?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 10–+ · 2021

What About Will

By Ellen Hopkins

A brother's injury spirals into addiction, testing family bonds and hidden secrets.

400 pages· 39,401 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 2,941 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Twelve-year-old Trace Reynolds idolizes his older brother Will, who once taught him to ride a bike and cheered him on at Little League. But after a football injury leaves Will with a brain injury, their family struggles under its weight. As Will battles depression and addiction, Trace covers for him, fearing further family fractures. Yet, as Will's behavior worsens, Trace faces a dilemma: how long can he keep his brother's secrets? In this poignant tale, the strength of brotherly love is tested against the harsh realities of change and loss.

The Bookroo Book Club