Suggested List of Books on Grief

Teen Books:

·         Still Here With Me: teenagers and chldren on losing a parent edited by Suzanne Sjoqvist Collection of stories of young people who have faced the death of a parent.

·         How it Feels When a Parent Diesby Jill Krementz  In this moving and insightful book about what it means to children when a parent dies, eighteen boys and girls, from seven to sixteen years old, speak openly, honestly and unreservedly, of their experiences and feelings. We see them in photographs with their surviving parent, with their brothers and sisters and their pets, in the midst of their everyday lives.

·         Never the Same:  coming to terms with the death of a parent  by Donna Schuurman, the director of The Dougy Center (www.dougy.org) .  A must read for anyone who, as a child or adolescent, experienced the death of a parent, as well as for counselors, therapists , teachers and others who work with such children and teens.

·         You Are Not Alone Teens talk about life after the loss of a parent by Lynne Hughes (founder of Comfort Zone Camp: a non profit camp which serves children 7-17 year round on weekends). Lynne lost both parents by the age of 12 and shares her personal story as well as stories of other young people.

·         Urban Dreams: stories of hope, resilience, and character. A remarkable book, written by students in Plainfield, capturing the words and value of children and adolescents, many from challenging backgrounds.  A must read for every superintendent, principal, guidance counselor, teacher, parent, adult and child. The stories will make you laugh, cry fill you with joy and inspire you to make a difference in your own schools and communities. Edited by Elias, Thompson, Lewis, Neft. (2008)

·         The Power to Prevent Suicide: A guide for teens helping teens by Richard Nelson and Judith Galas.  90% of teens would tell a friend first if they were suicidal. This book shows young people how a young person can help.

·         Teen Grief ReliefParenting with understanding, support and guidance. By Dr. Heidi Horsley and Dr. Gloria Horsley. Teenage grief is hard, lonely and painful. Parents want to know: how can I help? Shared here are teens stories, feelings, techniques, references, and resources.

·         Tears of a Tiger by Sharon M. Draper . A compelling novel about how on one horrifying night, one teen’s life changed forever after the car he was driving killed his best friend. They had been drinking and now this teen can’t stop blaming himself.

·         Out of the Darkness : Teens Talk About Suicide by Marion Crook  based on interviews with teen suicide survivors, parents and professionals, Marion Crook sensitively explores all aspects of teen suicide, in particular the reasons why certain young people are driven to it.

·         The Grieving Teen: A guide for teenagers and their friends by Helen Fitzgerald. This is a guide for teens from everything from the sickbed to the funeral, from the first day back to school to the first anniversary of the death. She lets teens know they are not alone.

·         The Year My Mother Was Baldby Ann Speltz  ages 8-13  Clare’s journal about the year her mother undergoes treatment for cancer. A scrapbook filled with drawings, photos, medical clippings and resources, the book offers a wealth of information about the illness, the diagnosis and treatment. Gives a reassuring voice to the feelings and questions of all young people who may be walking in her shoes.

·         Grief Girl, my true story by Eric Vincent.  A beautiful story told in diary form over a five year period told by the author of when her parents were both killed while crossing the street. Begins with the phone call and goes through her next few years of trials and tribulations.

·         When a Friend Dies: a book for teens about grieving and healingby Marilyn Gootman  This is a wonderful book that speaks directly to anyone who has suffered the loss of a friend. Also for parents and teachers who work with a teen.

·         Healing Your Grieving Heart for Teens:100 Practical Ideas. By Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D  Simple tips for understanding and expressing your grief.

·         Tiger Eyes  by Judy Blume  A girl must cope with the murder of her father and put her life together.

·         Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes  A true story of a young girl who dies as a result of leukemia caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

·         At  Risk by Alice Hoffman  Love triumphs over heartbreak in the story of an eleven year old with AIDS.

·         Sunshine by Norma Klein  Based on the real life diaries and tapes of a dying nineteen year old youth.

·         What About Me?  By Colby Rudowsky.   The story of a teenager and her handicapped brother whom she often wishes out of existence. The handling of this conflict and of the brother’s death makes for fascinating reading.