Books About Missing Parents

The Best Missing Parents Books for Kids

Looking for our other guide?

Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Books About Missing Persons, featuring 13 favorites and recommendations by age.

Looking for excellent children's books about missing parents? 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.

#3 in Series

Graphic Nov.

#2 in Series

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Missing Parents

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2014

Danger Down the Nile

By James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein, Juliana Neufeld (Illustrator) · Book #2 in the Treasure Hunters series

Siblings race down the Nile to rescue their kidnapped mother from pirates, facing wild dangers and hidden treasures.

480 pages· 41,286 words· Est. 6 hour read

4.3 Goodreads · 4,076 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Hardcover

Summary: Bick Kidd and his siblings, Beck, Storm, and Tommy, embark on a daring rescue mission down the Nile. Their mother is held captive by pirates, and the journey is fraught with peril. From navigating Egyptian pyramids to surviving jungle threats, they face angry hippos and treacherous villains. Can they outsmart the dangers and save their mother? Adventure and mystery await as they search for treasure and a way to reunite their family.

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$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2023

Greenwild

By Pari Thomson · Book #1 in the Greenwild series

A girl discovers a magical world while searching for her missing mother.

364 pages· 79,402 words· Est. 11 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 4,129 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Eleven-year-old Daisy Thistledown is on the run, searching for her vanished mother. Fleeing through a hidden doorway, she enters the Greenwild, a magical realm full of wonders. With a botanical genius, an animal-talking boy, and a feisty cat, Daisy must uncover secrets that could save her mother and this enchanted world. But dark forces threaten to destroy everything. Can Daisy harness her newfound powers in time?

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$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2017

The Creakers

By Tom Fletcher, Shane Devries (Illustrator)

Kids rejoice as adults vanish, but Lucy seeks the truth behind the eerie Creakers.

368 pages· 41,402 words· Est. 6 hour read

4.3 Goodreads · 4,152 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: When all the adults vanish, kids celebrate their newfound freedom. But Lucy Dungston is determined to find her missing mom. Guided by mysterious creaks from under her bed, she discovers the Creakers, mischievous creatures responsible for the adults' disappearance to the upside-down world of Woleb. Lucy must navigate this eerie realm to rescue the grown-ups before they transform into Creakers themselves. Can she unravel the mystery and bring her mom back before it's too late?

Graphic Nov.

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$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2017

Secret Origins

By James Riley · Book #3 in the Story Thieves series

Can Bethany and Owen defeat the Dark in a world without heroes?

384 pages· 67,780 words· Est. 12.5 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 3,079 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Bethany and Owen venture into a comic book world where darkness reigns. With heroes vanished and villains cowering, they must uncover the truth behind the Dark's power. As they seek to rescue Bethany's father and free the imprisoned Doc Twilight, they face a daunting challenge: how to fight without superpowers. Old friends and new allies may hold the key, but secrets from Bethany's past could change everything. Who is the mysterious Nobody, and what is the true story behind the Dark's rise? Dive into a world where the line between hero and villain blurs.

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$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2021

Pony

By R. J. Palacio, R. J. Palacio

A boy's quest to rescue his father with a ghostly ally and a mysterious pony.

304 pages· 61,611 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 9,510 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Twelve-year-old Silas's world shatters when horsemen abduct his father. Left with only a ghostly companion, Mittenwool, and a mysterious pony, Silas embarks on a daring journey. As he ventures into the unknown, he must confront his deepest fears and unravel secrets of his past. Will Silas find his father and uncover the mysteries that bind them? This gripping tale of courage and love explores the ties that transcend time and distance, promising an unforgettable adventure.

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$1697

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

New Dragon City

By Mari Mancusi · Book #1 in the New Dragon City series

Can a boy and a dragon find peace in a world torn by fear?

343 pages· 72,300 words· Est. 10 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 1,581 ratings

$16.99

Hardcover

Summary: In a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by dragons, young Noah survives with his father and a group of survivors. When Noah encounters a young dragon, he begins to question the 'kill or be killed' mentality. Rumors of humans living peacefully with dragons spark hope, but Noah's quest for harmony may cost him his family. As tensions rise, can Noah bridge the divide between humans and dragons, or will his dreams of peace crumble under the weight of fear and mistrust?

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2020

The Deceivers

By Margaret Peterson Haddix · Book #2 in the Greystone Secrets series

Four kids must navigate a dangerous world to rescue their trapped mothers.

464 pages· 77,607 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

4.0 Goodreads · 3,971 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Chess, Emma, Finn, and Natalie face a perilous mission to rescue their mothers from a twisted mirror world where truth is illegal. As they confront their fears and unravel complex codes, they must decide what truths to believe. Can Chess find his courage, Emma crack the code, Finn maintain his facade, and Natalie discern reality from lies? The stakes are high, and the truth could alter their lives forever. Dive into a suspenseful adventure where deception reigns and the power of truth is tested.

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 10–+ · 2011

Small as an Elephant

By Jennifer Richard Jacobson

A boy alone in Maine must find his way home before authorities discover his secret.

288 pages· 48,430 words· Est. 6.5 hour read

4.0 Goodreads · 8,772 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Jack's world is upended when his unpredictable mother vanishes, leaving him alone at a Maine campsite. With only a toy elephant for company, he must navigate his way back to Boston. As he embarks on this perilous journey, Jack faces challenges that test his courage and loyalty. Can he trust in the possibility of finding a new family, or will he remain lost in the chaos of abandonment? His quest is not just for home, but for belonging.

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2022

The Case of the Missing Marquess, The Case of the Left-Handed Lady, and The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets (Graphic Novel)

By Serena Blasco, Tanya Gold (Translator) · Enola Holmes (Graphic Novel) series

A young detective defies her brothers to solve her mother's mysterious disappearance.

192 pages· 14,312 words· Est. 2 hour read

4.0 Goodreads · 1,951 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Paperback

Summary: Enola Holmes, the clever younger sister of Sherlock, wakes to find her mother missing, leaving cryptic clues behind. As her brothers plan to send her away, Enola escapes, embarking on a daring quest to solve the mystery. With three intriguing cases to unravel, she must outsmart those who underestimate her. Will Enola uncover the truth and prove her detective skills? Discover the secrets hidden in her notebook and the challenges that await in this thrilling graphic novel adventure.

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2005

Little Camp of Horrors

By R.L. Stine · Book #4 in the Mostly Ghostly series

A summer at Camp Snake Lake pits Max against ghosts, snakes, and a dark secret.

144 pages· 21,424 words· Est. 3 hour read

3.9 Goodreads · 264 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Library Binding

Summary: Max's summer at Camp Snake Lake is anything but ordinary. With a lake teeming with snakes and a Headless Ghost haunting the grounds, Max must team up with ghostly friends Nicky and Tara to find their missing parents. But danger looms as the sinister spirit Phears returns, and Max's brother Colin holds a pendant that could be the key to everything. Can Max uncover the secret to vanquish Phears and save the day, or will the camp's mysteries prove too perilous?

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