Books About Family Struggles

The Best Family Struggles Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about family struggles? 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 10 Favorite Books About Family Struggles

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 10–15 · 1997

Out of the Dust

By Karen Hesse · Book #1 in the Newbery Medal Book series

A girl seeks solace amidst dust storms and personal tragedy.

Newbery Medal (1998)

227 pages· 19,706 words· Est. 2 hour read

5.3/7 Bookroo experts·3.8/5 Goodreads · 80,574 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Summary: In the heart of the Dust Bowl, fourteen-year-old Billie Jo faces unimaginable loss and hardship. A tragic accident leaves her scarred and unable to play the piano, her only solace. As dust storms ravage the land, Billie Jo's father remains silent, and her mother is gone. While others flee, she must find peace in the desolate Oklahoma landscape and within herself. Can Billie Jo overcome the devastation and find hope in the dust? Discover her journey of resilience and self-discovery in a world where everything seems lost.

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2015

Crenshaw

By Katherine Applegate

Can an imaginary cat help a struggling family find hope and stability?

The E.B. White Read Aloud Honor (2016)

272 pages· 25,030 words· Est. 3 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 38,905 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Summary: Jackson's family faces homelessness, with eviction looming and food scarce. Amidst this turmoil, Crenshaw, his imaginary cat friend, reappears. As Jackson grapples with reality, can Crenshaw offer the support needed to change their fate? Discover a tale of resilience and the power of friendship, real or imagined.

Sale price

$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2023

Coyote Queen

By Jessica Vitalis

A girl seeks escape from a troubled home, discovering a mysterious bond with coyotes that may hold the key to freedom.

272 pages· 56,384 words· Est. 8 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 319 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Summary: Twelve-year-old Fud feels trapped in a trailer with her mom and her mom's volatile boyfriend. When a rusted houseboat threatens to become their new home, Fud sees it as a prison. Desperate to escape, she enters a beauty pageant for the prize money. But as her connection to the coyotes outside deepens, strange changes begin. Is Fud transforming, or is it just her imagination? As she navigates this eerie bond, she must decide who she can truly save. Can Fud find the strength to break free before it's too late?

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 9–13 · 2020

My Life in the Fish Tank

By Barbara Dee

Zinny must balance family secrets and her dreams when her brother's illness changes everything.

320 pages· 45,061 words· Est. 5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 1,402 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Summary: Twelve-year-old Zinny Manning's life is upended when her brother Gabriel is diagnosed with a mental illness. Her parents insist on keeping it a secret, isolating Zinny from her friends and leaving her conflicted. As she navigates school, a quirky Lunch Club, and her love for science, Zinny faces a tough choice: pursue her dream of attending a marine biology camp or stay to support her struggling family. Can Zinny find a way to help Gabriel while still following her own path?

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

Three Strike Summer

By Skyler Schrempp

A girl defies rules and dust storms to join a secret baseball team and save her family's future.

320 pages· 59,215 words· Est. 8 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 741 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Summary: Gloria Mae Willard faces dust storms and dwindling wages as her family moves to a California peach orchard. Forbidden from organizing, she dreams of joining an all-boys baseball team. With determination and a knack for bending rules, Gloria aims to change her fate and prove her worth. Can she break through the barriers and find her voice in a world set against her? As secrets unfold and challenges mount, Gloria's resolve is tested. Will she succeed in organizing more than just peaches, or will the odds keep her dreams out of reach?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

The Benefits of Being an Octopus

By Ann Braden

Zoey juggles family duties and school, but debate club forces her to confront hidden truths.

312 pages· 55,561 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 16,584 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Summary: Seventh-grader Zoey juggles caring for siblings and staying unnoticed at school. Living in her mom's boyfriend's trailer, she dreams of being an octopus to handle life's chaos. Forced into debate club, Zoey begins to see her world differently, questioning her mom's relationship and her own place in a divided town. Can she find the courage to speak up, risking the only stability she's known? This poignant story explores class divides and personal growth through Zoey's eyes.

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

Snow Foal

By Susanna Bailey

A girl and a wild foal find hope and friendship in a cold, isolated winter.

288 pages· 55,247 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 463 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Summary: Eleven-year-old Addie, burdened by anger and mistrust, arrives at a foster home on a remote farm. Amidst the harsh winter, she rescues a wild foal, sparking an unexpected bond. As they navigate their shared loneliness, Addie discovers the power of friendship and healing. Can they find their way to a place called home? This heartwarming tale explores the transformative connection between a girl and her animal companion, set against the backdrop of the natural world.

Sale price

$1049

Board Book · Ages 4–8 · 1996

Leah's Pony

By Elizabeth Friedrich, Michael Garland (Illustrator)

A girl and her pony face a drought threatening their family farm.

32 pages· 1,334 words· Est. 11 min read-aloud

4.3/5 Goodreads · 202 ratings

$10.99Save 5%

Summary: In the Dust Bowl's harsh grip, young Leah and her beloved pony face a dire challenge. As locusts darken the sky and crops wither, Leah's family farm teeters on the brink of ruin. With her father's hopes fading, Leah must find the courage to make a heart-wrenching decision. Can her selfless act save her family and inspire a struggling town? Discover the power of sacrifice and resilience in this poignant tale of hope amidst despair.

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2011

Okay for Now

By Gary D. Schmidt

A troubled teen finds unexpected hope in art and friendship amidst family turmoil.

National Book Award for Young People's Literature Finalist (2011)

360 pages· 77,325 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 39,276 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Summary: Doug Swieteck, labeled a 'teenage thug,' battles a harsh home life and a town's judgment. New in town, he discovers solace in a library, a surprising friendship with Lil, and the power of art. As his brother returns from Vietnam, scarred and angry, Doug must navigate his own path to find something better than just 'okay for now.' Can he redefine himself and uncover a brighter future?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 9–13 · 2019

Free Lunch

By Rex Ogle

A boy navigates poverty and school challenges, hiding his struggles from peers.

224 pages· 47,452 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

4.4/5 Goodreads · 11,578 ratings

$9.95Save 4%

Summary: Rex faces the trials of sixth grade in a wealthy school district while grappling with poverty. As he struggles with free lunch stigma, secondhand clothes, and a tumultuous home life, Rex must find his place among peers who judge him at first glance. Evicted and living in subsidized housing, he hides his reality from classmates, lingering after school to avoid revealing where he lives. Amidst hardship, Rex's journey is one of resilience, hope, and the quest for belonging in a world that often overlooks him. Can he find grace in the midst of adversity?

The Bookroo Book Club