Books About Guilt

The Best Guilt Books for Kids

Looking for our other guide?

Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Feelings and Emotions, featuring 10 favorites and recommendations by age.

Looking for excellent children's books about guilt? 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.

#2 in Series

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Guilt

The Tell-Tale Heart

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 1843

The Tell-Tale Heart

By Edgar Allan Poe

Dive into chilling tales of murder, madness, and mystery.

224 pages· 2,188 words· Est. 13 min read

4.2 Goodreads · 245,903 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Enter a world of suspense with tales like 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' where guilt drives a man to madness, and 'The Cask of Amontillado,' a chilling story of revenge. Meet a detective who outsmarts all in 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue.' Each story, from haunted houses to sinister plots, promises to captivate and terrify. Discover the genius of Poe, the master of Gothic horror and suspense, through these timeless, mind-bending narratives.

Sale price

$1797

Picture Book · Ages 3–7 · 2025

Broken

By X. Fang

A broken cup, a blamed cat, and a child's guilt unravel a heartfelt tale of forgiveness.

48 pages· 387 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud

4.5 Goodreads · 1,201 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Mei Mei's world shatters with her grandmother's favorite cup. Fear of anger and rejection grips her, but when the innocent cat Mimi is blamed, guilt overwhelms. Can Mei Mei find the courage to confess and seek forgiveness? This tender story explores the weight of guilt and the warmth of a grandparent's love, wrapped in vibrant illustrations and comedic drama.

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

Right as Rain

By Lindsey Stoddard

A secret burdens Rain as her family moves to the city, threatening to unravel everything.

304 pages· 60,344 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 1,121 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Rain carries a heavy secret about her brother's death, a secret that no one knows. As her family relocates to bustling New York City, she feels more isolated than ever. With her parents' tensions rising and the anniversary of the tragedy looming, Rain struggles to keep her secret buried. But she knows that hidden truths have a way of growing beyond control. Will Rain find the courage to face her past, or will her secret tear her family apart? Discover the strength of a small heart in this tender tale of love and resilience.

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2022

The Last Fallen Moon

By Graci Kim · Book #2 in the Gifted Clans series

Riley must restore magic to her clan by venturing into the Spiritrealm.

363 pages· 96,382 words· Est. 10.5 hour read

4.3 Goodreads · 1,743 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Riley Oh, the Godrealm's last fallen star, faces a daunting task: restore her clan's lost magic. With her sister and a mysterious ally, she must brave the Spiritrealm, confront monsters, and uncover hidden truths. As curses threaten her home and a dark fate looms, Riley races against time to save the gifted community. Can she overcome the challenges and bring back the healing powers her clan desperately needs? The stakes are high, and Riley won't let anything stand in her way.

Sale price

$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2021

The Shape of Thunder

By Jasmine Warga

Two estranged friends attempt time travel to heal their shattered lives.

275 pages· 57,218 words· Est. 6.5 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 5,835 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Cora and Quinn, once inseparable, are torn apart by tragedy. Cora mourns her sister lost in a school shooting, while Quinn bears the weight of her brother's actions. On Cora's birthday, Quinn proposes a daring plan: travel back in time to prevent the catastrophe. As they delve into the mysteries of time travel, they discover that the true magic lies in their rekindled friendship. Can they change the past, or will they find healing in the present? This poignant tale explores the power of belief and the bonds that can mend broken hearts.

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 10–+ · 2014

The Paper Cowboy

By Kristin Levine

A troubled boy's paper route uncovers a secret that could tear his community apart.

352 pages· 75,540 words· Est. 10.5 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 1,361 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Tommy, a troubled boy with a tough home life, takes over his sister's paper route to make amends. But when he discovers a communist newspaper, he suspects a neighbor's secret. As fear grips the community, Tommy's actions spiral, threatening to destroy a local storeowner's life. With his sister still in the hospital and his mother's abuse worsening, Tommy's world teeters on the edge. Can he find redemption, or will his choices lead to ruin? Uncover the gripping tale of a boy caught in a web of suspicion and the quest for truth.

Sale price

$1139

Chapter Book · Ages 14–+ · 2021

You'd Be Home Now

By Kathleen Glasgow

A girl seeks her true self amid her brother's addiction and a town's secrets.

416 pages· 92,195 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 87,842 ratings

$11.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Emory's life unravels after a tragic accident exposes her brother Joey's addiction. As Mill Haven grapples with the opioid crisis, Emmy must redefine her identity beyond labels. With Joey's return from rehab and the town's whispers, Emmy questions who she truly is. Can she break free from others' expectations and uncover the hidden truths around her? In a journey of self-discovery, Emmy learns that people are more than they seem, and love means accepting each other as they are. Dive into a poignant tale of family, identity, and resilience in a community shadowed by addiction.

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016

Just My Luck

By Cammie McGovern

A boy faces family challenges and self-doubt, seeking hope amid adversity.

256 pages· 45,496 words· Est. 6.5 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 1,315 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Benny Barrows' fourth grade year is a struggle. With no best friend and a knack for bad luck, he feels responsible for his dad's accident. As his father lands in the hospital again, Benny must navigate his fears and find strength in helping others. Can he turn his misfortune into a journey of resilience and discover his true worth to his family and friends?

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2023

Five Nights at Freddy's

By Scott Cawthon, Emma Tammi, Seth Cuddeback

Survive the night at a haunted pizzeria where animatronics come alive.

352 pages· 84,318 words· Est. 11.5 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 648 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Step into a chilling world where night guard Mike faces terrifying animatronics at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. As darkness falls, survival becomes a game of wits and courage. Can he uncover the secrets lurking in the shadows before it's too late?

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2023

Fazbear Frights Graphic Novel Collection Vol. 4 (Graphic Novel)

By Scott Cawthon, Elley Cooper, Andrea Waggener, Christopher Hastings (Adapter), Diana Camero (Illustrator), Coryn Macpherson (Illustrator), Benjamin Sawyer (Illustrator) · Book #4 in the Five Nights at Freddy’s Graphic Novels series

Three chilling tales reveal the dark side of seemingly innocent toys.

192 pages· 7,549 words· Est. 56 min read

4.0 Goodreads · 419 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Paperback

Summary: In a world where toys hold sinister secrets, Reed's revenge on a bully backfires, Robert's new teddy bear becomes a parenting nightmare, and Sergio's lucky charm may lead to doom. Dive into these graphic novel stories from Five Nights at Freddy's: Fazbear Frights, where each tale twists the ordinary into the terrifying. Will these characters escape the horrors lurking in their seemingly harmless possessions, or will they fall victim to their own desires? Brace yourself for a journey into the unsettling unknown, where nothing is as it seems.

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