31 Mar Books About Coping with Loss
If you have experienced loss, you may be familiar with the analogy of grief as a ball that slowly shrinks over time. While everyone experiences loss differently, stories can be one way to help you cope and shrink the ball of grief over time. Here are a few books that we suggest checking out.
Teen Fiction about Loss and Grief
All descriptions are from Evergreen.
Hope and Other Punchlines by Julie Buxbaum
“The tragic 9/11 event in NYC that changed the world, altered the life of Abbi Hope Goldstein as well as that of Noah Stern. They did not know each other back then, but they know each other now, while Abbi is trying to move forward with her life, Noah still has unanswered questions that he believes Abbi can help answer.”
A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey
“Seventeen year old Lila Rayes, furious when her parents send her to the English countryside to recover from grief and heartbreak, unexpectedly falls in love with a tea shop clerk — and England, itself.” — Provided by Evergreen
Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry
“Three sisters in San Antonio are shadowed by guilt and grief over the loss of their oldest sister who still haunts their house.”
The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante
“After escaping a detention center at the U.S. Border, seventeen year old Marisol agrees to participate in a medical experiment hoping to keep her and her younger sister Gabi from being deported to El Savador.”
“The heart-breaking and at times humorous look at one teen’s life after the death of his best friends and how he navigates through the guilt and pain by celebrating their lives — and ultimately learning to forgive himself.”
The Meaning of Birds by Jaye Robin Brown
“During her sophomore year, Jessica develops a relationship with Vivi which helps her deal with the anger she has felt since her father’s death, only to be overwhelmed again when Vivi dies during their senior year.”
Wild Blue Wonder by Carlie Sorosiak
“Ask anyone in Winship, Maine and they’ll tell you the summer camp Quinn’s family owns is a magical place. Paper wishes hang from the ceiling. Blueberries grow in the dead of winter. According to local legend, a sea monster even lurks off the coast. Mostly, they’re just a feeling that something extraordinary could happen there. Like Quinn falling in love with her best friend, Dylan. After the accident, the magic drained from Quinn’s life. Now Dylan is gone, the camp is a lonely place, and Quinn knows it’s her fault. But, the new boy in town, Alexander, doesn’t see her as the monster she believes herself to be. As Quinn lets herself open up again, she begins to understand the truth about love, loss, and monsters-real and imagined.”
“In an attempt to understand why her best friend committed suicide, eighteen year old Cody Reynolds retraces her dead friend’s footsteps and makes some startling discoveries.”
Further Resources
These books are wonderfully written and great reads. You can follow the Evergreen links in this post or you can find all of the titles on Overdrive/Libby. If you’re new to Libby, check out our blog post about navigating the app. Feel free to call us at 317.839.6602 or email us at askus@plainfieldlibrary.net if you have any questions.
