I was very sorry to learn of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing. In case you needed some book recommendations for dealing with loss, I’ve come up with a few MG and YA books.
Middle Grade Books
The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge
A grieving boy travels to his parallel universe in search of his mother.
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
In a mainstream school, a deaf girl wants to communicate with a lonely whale three thousand miles away. When her parents do not support her travel to the whale sanctuary, Iris decides to find her own way there. My review
The Edge of In Between by Lorelei Savaryn
A grieving girl wants to be reunited with her dead parents and agrees to travel to the In Between. But when her new friendships bring colour back into her life, she must decide if there could be another life after her parents’ deaths. My review
About a girl, grief and sharks. This is a STEAM story about a marine biologist and her sharks. It is also a heart-warming story of friends and family, coming together and supporting one another through good and bad times. My review
My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher
Ten-year-old Jamie Matthews has just moved to the Lake District with his Dad and his teenage sister, Jasmine for a ‘Fresh New Start’. Five years ago his sister’s twin, Rose, was blown up by a terrorist bomb. His parents are wrecked by their grief, Jasmine turns to piercing, pink hair and stops eating. The family falls apart. But Jamie hasn’t cried in all that time. To him Rose is just a distant memory. Jamie is far more interested in his cat, Roger, his birthday Spiderman T-shirt, and in keeping his new friend Sunya a secret from his dad. And in his deep longing and unshakeable belief that his Mum will come back to the family she walked out on months ago. When he sees a TV advert for a talent show, he feels certain that this will change everything and bring them all back together once and for all. My review
Julia is very short for her age, but by the end of the summer run of The Wizard of Oz, she’ll realize how big she is inside, where it counts. She hasn’t ever thought of herself as a performer, but when the wonderful director of Oz casts her as a Munchkin, she begins to see herself in a new way. As Julia becomes friendly with the poised and wise Olive – one of the adults with dwarfism who’ve joined the production’s motley crew of Munchkins – and with her deeply artistic neighbor, Mrs. Chang, Julia’s own sense of self as an artist grows. Soon, she doesn’t want to fade into the background and it’s a good thing, because her director has more big plans for Julia! My review
Us Minus Mum by Heather Butler
George and Theo’s mum is brilliant.
She tells great stories, can wave the fastest of anyone on the planet and, most importantly, she was the one who suggested they adopt a scruffy dog called Goffo.
The boys think she’s invincible. But they’re wrong.
Because Mum is ill.
Really ill.
It’s up to George and Theo to keep Mum smiling. Which will almost probably definitely involve wellies, shepherd’s pie and Goffo’s victory at the pet talent show . . .
We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen
Thirteen-year-old Stewart is academically brilliant but socially clueless.
Fourteen-year-old Ashley is the undisputed “It” girl in her class, but her grades stink.
Their worlds are about to collide when Stewart and his dad move in with Ashley and her mom. Stewart is trying to be 89.9 percent happy about it, but Ashley is 110 percent horrified. She already has to hide the real reason her dad moved out; “Spewart” could further threaten her position at the top of the social ladder.
They are complete opposites. And yet, they have one thing in common: they—like everyone else—are made of molecules.
The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
After her best friend dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy must have been a rare jellyfish sting–things don’t just happen for no reason. Retreating into a silent world of imagination, she crafts a plan to prove her theory–even if it means traveling the globe, alone. Suzy’s achingly heartfelt journey explores life, death, the astonishing wonder of the universe…and the potential for love and hope right next door.
A middle-grade book about a Japanese-American girl and her family struggles with her dying sister.
Young Adult
Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index by Julie Israel
This book is about a girl grieving for her sister.
Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley
About a girl grieving over her brother.
Left behind in the mountains, a desperate boy harnesses a cure from the Great Fire Tree. Even when its dark powers brings tragedy, he believes it will bring his mother home again. For readers 11-14 years. More info
A harried mother wants to stay one step ahead of her children’s antics and experiments with the Magic Mixer. A machine invented by a female scientist and engineer, it gives her special animal abilities. But choosing the right animal proves more difficult that she thought. For readers for 6-9 years. More info
Justine Laismith 