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.

#4 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 · 49,773 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 · 853 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 · 640 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 · 4,133 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 · 172 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

$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 · 387 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 · 7,754 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

$1049

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2026

Flight

A perilous journey on a deadly train tests a girl's courage and trust as she seeks her lost family.

96 pages· 15,629 words· Est. 2 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 151 ratings

$10.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Daniela López faces a harrowing journey from Honduras to the U.S. border after being separated from her parents. With her younger brother Carlos, she must navigate the dangers of 'The Beast,' a treacherous freight train, while evading gangs and kidnappers. Trust becomes a precious commodity as they travel with fellow refugees, each decision potentially life-altering. Will Dani find her parents, or will the perils of the journey prove too great? This gripping tale explores the immigrant experience and the resilience needed to forge a new path.

Sale price

$674

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2012

Caroline Takes a Chance

By Kathleen Ernst, Robert Papp (Illustrator), Lisa Papp (Illustrator) · Book #4 in the American Girl: Caroline series

A warship looms. Can she save the American boat in time?

90 pages· 13,268 words· Est. 2 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 952 ratings

$6.95Save 3%

Paperback

Summary: Caroline, fishing on Lake Ontario, spots a British warship poised to seize an American boat. With her father's words of bravery echoing in her mind, she faces a split-second decision that could change everything. As she grapples with her father's absence, a startling discovery at their cherished fishing spot adds to the tension. Will her daring actions be enough to thwart the enemy and make her father proud? Dive into a tale of courage and unexpected revelations set against the backdrop of early 1800s conflict.

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