Grieving the Loss of a Friend: Best Books for Youth & Young Adults
When grieving the death of a friend, kids and youth may become overwhelmed by the waves of complex emotions that accompany grief. It is often hard to find spaces to feel validated or fully understood in their grief experience. This is where the power of books and storytelling comes in – to provide comfort, compassion, and connection. As a caregiver or support professional books can also become a transformative tool for collective healing & hope.
After combing through several grief support books, the Eluna Resource Center has pulled together this list of literature to support youth who are grieving the death of a friend. We encourage you to visit your local library to take a peek and check out the books that feel like the best fit.
Make sure to also check out our recommended books for grieving the loss of a parent, sibling, grandparent, and anticipatory grief.
Grieving the Loss of a Friend:
Ages 2 – 5
Ages 5 – 7
- My Best Friend Teddy by Denise Gordon**
- Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories by Audrey Penn**
- Gentle Willow by Joyce C. Mills
- When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death by Laurie Krasny Brown**
Ages 7 – 12
- When Someone Dies: A Children’s Mindful How-To Guide on Grief and Loss by Andrea Dorn**
- Why Do I Feel So Sad?: A Grief Book for Children by Tracy Lambert-Prater LPC
Teens & Young Adults
- When a Friend Dies: A Book for Teens by Marilyn E. Gootman Ed.D**
- History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera**
- Lies My Girlfriend Told Me by Julia Anne Peter**
- The Truth Is by NoNieqa Ramos**
- Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes**
Please let us know if you have any favorites that we are missing. Email Sarah
**Eluna is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and a percentage of your purchase will generate a commission to directly support The Eluna Resource Center.
