Books for grieving teens
Most of the links from the book titles below will lead you to Amazon.com, where you can learn more about the book, read reviews about it, and order it if you’d like. Most of these books can be purchased through other book sellers, as well, or found at your local library.
General
Fire In My Heart, Ice In My Veins
by Enid Traisman, 2006.
A journal for teenagers. Teens can write letters, copy down meaningful lyrics, write songs and poems, tell the person who died what they want them to know, finish business and use their creativity to work through the grieving process.
The Grieving Teen: A Guide for Teenagers and Their Friends
by Helen Fitzgerald; Fireside, 2000
Healing Your Grieving Heart for Teens
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Phd; Companion Press, 2001
Helping Teens Cope with Death
The Dougy Center; Dougy Center, 1999
Helping Teens Work Through Grief
by Mary Kelly Perschy; Accelerated Development, 1999
Aimed at adults to assist teens
If Only
by Carole Geithner
Life Happens: A Teenagers Guide to Friends, Failure, Sexuality, Love, Rejection, Addiction, Peer Pressure, Families, Loss, Depression and Change (non-fiction)
Kathy McCoy, Charles Wibbelsman; Berkley Publishing Group, 1996
Includes the death of a family member, symptoms of depression and what to expect from a mental health provider in addition to other teenage issues.
Saying Goodbye When You Don't Want To
by Martha Bolton, Vine Books
March 2002
Straight Talk About Death for Teenagers
by Earl Grollman;
Beacon Press, 1993
The Tiger Rising
by Kate Dicamillo
Friend
Bridge to Terabithia fiction, teaching guides available.
by Katherine Peterson; Harper Trophy, 1987
Accidental death of friend
When a Friend Dies, A Book for Teens About Grieving and Healing
by Marilyn E. Grootman;
Free Spirit Press, 1994
nonfiction
Grandparent
Toning the Sweep fiction
by Angela Johnson; Scholastic Paperbacks, 1994
Coretta Scott King award winner
African American story of visits to a grandmother dying of cancer