Books About Grief And Loss · 69 titles considered

The Best Grief And Loss Books for Kids

Looking for our other guide?

Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Books About Loss, featuring 15 favorites and recommendations by age.

Looking for excellent children's books about grief and loss? 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.

Series

#1 in Series

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Grief And Loss

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 · 267,290 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.

Sale price

$2089

Chapter Book · 2026

When the World Was Happy

By Benjamin Alire Sáenz

After violence shatters their high school, twins search for what still holds them together.

416 pages

4.3 Goodreads · 127 ratings

$21.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: CheChe and his twin sister Emma lead a quiet, happy life in El Paso, close to their parents and grandparents. A few months after they turn seventeen, gunmen attack their high school: CheChe loses a leg, and both twins lose friends. As they navigate grief, relationships and a world that suddenly feels different, they find that their love for family and close friends has only grown deeper.

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 14–+ · 2020

Legendborn

By Tracy Deonn · The Legendborn Cycle series

A teen discovers a secret society and her own magic, unraveling her mother's mysterious death.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award (2021)

501 pages· 156,015 words· Est. 14.5 hour read

4.3 Goodreads · 205,059 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Paperback

Summary: Bree Matthews, reeling from her mother's death, escapes to a college program only to witness a magical attack. Uncovering her own powers, she infiltrates a secret society linked to King Arthur's knights. With a reluctant ally, Nick, Bree delves into the society's mysteries, seeking the truth about her mother's death. As a magical war looms, Bree must decide whether to fight alongside the Legendborn or bring them down. Will she uncover the truth, or will the secrets consume her?

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2024

The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree

By Lucille Abendanon

A young girl must find her voice to survive a war-torn world.

307 pages· 83,446 words· Est. 9.5 hour read

4.4 Goodreads · 289 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Paperback

Summary: In 1942 Batavia, Emmy's angelic voice is silenced by tragedy. As war erupts, her chance to escape vanishes, leaving her trapped in a brutal camp. Separated from loved ones, Emmy must summon her inner strength to endure and rediscover her voice amidst chaos. Can she reclaim her freedom and find hope in the darkest times?

Sale price

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2009

The Rescue

By Nicholas Edwards · Book #1 in the Dog Whisperer series

A girl and a dog share a psychic bond. Can they save lives together?

224 pages· 41,205 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 684 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Twelve-year-old Emily's recurring nightmares of drowning reveal a mysterious connection to a struggling dog she finds on the shore. As she nurses him back to health, their bond deepens into a psychic link, allowing them to share thoughts and feelings. With this newfound power, Emily and her canine companion, Zack, face a thrilling challenge: can they use their unique connection to help others in need? As they explore their abilities, the stakes rise, and Emily must decide how far she's willing to go to turn their shared visions into reality.

Sale price

$1473

Chapter Book · Ages 11–15 · 2005

Once

By Morris Gleitzman · Book #1 in the Once Series series

A boy's storytelling may be his only hope in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Sydney Taylor Book Honor (2011)

160 pages· 30,815 words· Est. 3 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 29,060 ratings

$15.50Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In 1942 Poland, young Felix escapes an orphanage, determined to find his parents. As a Jewish boy, danger lurks at every turn. Armed only with his storytelling gift, can Felix outwit the Nazis and reunite with his family? His journey is fraught with peril, but hope and imagination might just be his salvation. Discover Felix's gripping tale of survival and courage in a world where every moment counts.

Sale price

$858

Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 2000

The Memory String

By Eve Bunting, Ted Rand (Illustrator)

A girl treasures her late mother's buttons, unsure her new stepmother belongs.

40 pages· 1,415 words· Est. 11 min read-aloud

4.3 Goodreads · 751 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Each button on Laura's memory string holds a piece of her family's history, and the ones she treasures most belonged to her mother, who died. When the string breaks and a button goes missing, her new stepmother, Jane, helps search for it. Laura learns that a memory string is for new memories as well as old ones.

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2024

Mid-Air

By Alicia D. Williams, Danica Novgorodoff (Illustrator)

A boy struggles with guilt and identity after his friend's tragic death.

320 pages· 33,392 words· Est. 3.5 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 1,468 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Isaiah's world shatters when his best friend, Darius, dies in a hit-and-run. As eighth grade ends, Isaiah clings to his fading friendship with Drew, hoping to honor Darius by breaking records. But Drew's changed, and Isaiah's sensitivity feels like a burden. Can Isaiah find strength in vulnerability, or will he lose himself trying to fit in?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

Shot Clock

By Caron Butler, Justin A. Reynolds · Book #1 in the Shot Clock series

A boy seeks healing and legacy on a basketball team after tragedy strikes.

304 pages· 55,388 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 381 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Tony dreams of honoring his late friend Dante by joining the Sabres, an AAU basketball team. Though he misses the cut, Coach James offers him a unique role as statistician. As his community grapples with loss, Tony must navigate his grief and find a way to lead the Sabres to victory. Can he turn numbers into a winning strategy and find peace along the way?

Sale price

$2089

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2019

Ojiichan's Gift

By Chieri Uegaki, Genevieve Simms (Illustrator)

A girl must preserve her grandfather's stone garden as he moves away.

32 pages· 868 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud

4.2 Goodreads · 507 ratings

$21.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Mayumi cherishes summers in Japan, tending a unique stone garden with her grandfather. But when he can no longer care for it, she faces the challenge of keeping their cherished memories alive. Can Mayumi find a way to honor their bond and the garden's legacy? This touching tale explores family ties, change, and the enduring power of love.

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