Books About The Afterlife

The Best The Afterlife Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about the afterlife? 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.

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The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About The Afterlife

Sale price

$2133

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2005

Elsewhere

By Gabrielle Zevin

In a world where life runs backward, can Liz embrace a future she never wanted?

288 pages· 59,918 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

3.9/5 Goodreads · 73,869 ratings

$22.45Save 5%

Summary: Fifteen-year-old Liz Hall finds herself in Elsewhere, a place where life moves in reverse. As she ages backward, Liz struggles with letting go of her dreams of turning sixteen, getting a driver's license, and going to college. Living with a grandmother she never knew, Liz must navigate this strange afterlife. Can she find meaning in a life lived backward, or will she forever yearn for the life she left behind? Discover a world where the past becomes the future and every moment is a chance to redefine what it means to live.

Sale price

$574

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

Crushed

By Orli Zuravicky · Book #2 in the Happily Ever Afterlife series

Ghostly dance club faces unexpected rivalry at Limbo Central.

192 pages· 31,933 words· Est. 4.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 210 ratings

$5.99Save 4%

Summary: Lucy and Cecily, once talented ballet dancers, aim to start a dance club at Limbo Central Middle School. But Georgia, the cheerleading squad leader, opposes their plan, sparking unexpected drama. Can they overcome this spectral rivalry and bring their passion to the afterlife? Discover the twists and turns of their ghostly challenge.

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2022

The Last Fallen Moon

By Graci Kim · 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

4.3/5 Goodreads · 1,719 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

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

$1797

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2025

River of Spirits

By Shana Targosz · Book #1 in the The Underwild series

A girl defies rules to save another, uncovering secrets in the Underworld's depths.

432 pages· 87,139 words· Est. 12 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 732 ratings

$18.99Save 5%

Summary: Senka, caught between life and death, aids Charon in guiding souls. When Poppy, a living girl, seeks her brother's ghost, Senka breaks rules to help. Swept into the Underwild, they face spirits and secrets that challenge Senka's past and future. Can she save Poppy and herself before it's too late?

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Sale price

$2184

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2023

Ghost Book

By Remy Lai

A girl who sees ghosts must choose between saving a friend or herself.

CALA Best Book Award (Chinese American Librarians Association) Honor (2024)

320 pages· 8,657 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 2,486 ratings

$22.99Save 5%

Summary: July Chen can see ghosts, but her father denies their existence. During Hungry Ghost month, she befriends William, a soul trapped between life and death. As they seek to restore him, July faces a chilling truth: for William to live, she must die. This adventure, inspired by Chinese mythology, explores friendship, sacrifice, and the unseen world.

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

The House with Chicken Legs

By Sophie Anderson

A girl defies fate to find her missing grandmother, risking a journey to the afterlife.

272 pages· 57,867 words· Est. 8 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 12,200 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Summary: Twelve-year-old Marinka craves a real friend, not just the company of her magical, wandering house. Trained to be a Yaga like her grandmother, she faces a lonely future guiding souls. When Marinka seizes a chance for friendship, she unwittingly breaks sacred rules, leading to her grandmother's mysterious disappearance. Now, Marinka must embark on a perilous quest into the afterlife to save her, confronting the very destiny she wishes to escape. Will she find her grandmother, or will the journey change her forever?

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2001

Mummies and Pyramids

By Mary Pope Osborne, Will Osborne (Illustrator), Sal Murdocca (Illustrator) · Magic Tree House: Fact Tracker series

Ancient Egyptians lived in a world of pharaohs and pyramids, where mummies and tombs held secrets of the afterlife.

119 pages· 5,438 words· Est. 1 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 2,021 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Summary: Join Jack and Annie as they unravel the mysteries of ancient Egypt. From the secrets of mummification to the construction of the pyramids, their quest for answers leads to fascinating discoveries. Dive into a world where history comes alive, and every fact reveals a new wonder. Will they uncover the truth behind the hieroglyphs and the daily lives of Egyptians? Explore the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers and embark on an educational journey filled with intriguing insights and captivating details. Perfect for young explorers eager to learn more about the wonders of the past.

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Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2010

Ghostopolis

By Doug TenNapel

A boy gains powers in a ghostly realm and must escape its evil ruler.

272 pages· 6,359 words· Est. 57 min read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 13,969 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Summary: Garth Hale is unexpectedly transported to the spirit world by a bungling ghost wrangler. There, he discovers unique powers that the sinister ruler of Ghostopolis covets. With his grandfather's ghost, Cecil, Garth embarks on a perilous quest to return home. As hope dwindles, the unlikely hero must navigate a realm of danger and deception. Will Garth outwit the malevolent forces and find his way back, or will he be trapped forever in a world where nothing is as it seems?

Sale price

$1710

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2011

Temple Alley Summer

By Sachiko Kashiwaba, Miho Satake (Illustrator), Avery Fischer Udagawa (Translator)

A boy encounters a mysterious girl linked to a temple's secret of life and death.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award (2022)

240 pages· 52,245 words· Est. 6 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,990 ratings

$18.00Save 5%

Summary: Kazu's world turns upside down when he spots a girl in a white kimono sneaking out of his house. The next day, she appears in his classroom, and everyone insists she's always been there. As Kazu investigates Kimyo Temple, he uncovers a legend about reviving the dead. With his enigmatic classmate Akari, they must unravel the temple's secrets and protect its power. An unfinished story from Akari's past might hold the key to her existence, but can they solve the mystery before adults thwart their quest for truth?

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Sale price

$1348

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter

By Aaron Reynolds · Book #1 in the The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter series

A boy cursed by the Grim Reaper must solve ghostly animal mysteries to break the spell.

224 pages· 32,897 words· Est. 6 hour read

3.8/5 Goodreads · 2,026 ratings

$13.99Save 4%

Summary: Rex Dexter just wanted a dog, but after his pet chicken's untimely demise, he's cursed by the Grim Reaper. Now, haunted by ghostly zoo animals, Rex must unravel the mystery of their deaths to break the curse. With his skeptical friend Darvish in tow, Rex faces a whirlwind of spectral chaos and puzzling clues. Can he solve the enigma before more animals meet their end? Dive into a world where the afterlife is chatty, messy, and full of surprises. Will Rex find the answers he needs, or will the curse haunt him forever?

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