Grieving the Loss of a Parent: Best Books for Youth & Young Adults

When grieving the death of a parent, kids & 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 parent. We encourage you to visit your local library to take a peek and check out the books that feel like the best fit for you and your family.

Make sure to also check out our recommended books for grieving the loss of a sibling, friend, grandparent, and anticipatory grief.

Grieving the Loss of a Mother or Mother Figure:

Ages 2 – 5

• The Invisible String by Patrice Karst**
• I Lost Something Very Special by Na’ima B Robert**

Ages 5 – 7

• Missing Mommy by Rebecca Cobb

Ages 7 – 12

• The Girl with the Ghost Machine by Lauren DeStefano**
• The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani**
• The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise Hardcover by Dan Gemeinhart**
• The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling**

Teens & Young Adults

• Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner**
• Dancing at the Pity Party: A Dead Mom Graphic Memoir by Tyler Feder**
• The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds**

Grieving the Loss of a Father or Father Figure:

Ages 2 – 5

• Sunflowers and Rainbows for Tia: Saying Goodbye to Daddy by Alesia K. Alexander
• Always by my Side by Susan Kerner**
• Hugs From the Sky by C. Reed
• I’ll always be there: A children’s book about loss and celebrating memories by Dionna Brown

Ages 5 – 7

• The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers**
• The Day My Dad Turned Invisible by Sean R. Simmons**
• The Grief Forest: A Book About What We Don’t Talk About by Laraine Herring**

Ages 7 – 12

• Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai**
• The House that Lou Built by Mae Respicio**

Teens & Young Adults

• The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki**
• How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr**
• 37 Things I love (in no particular order) by Kekla Magoon**

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.