Books about family illness

Books can help if you and your family are going through tough times. It is comforting to know that you’re not the only one. This is a selection of stories where a member of the protagonist’s family is ill. It includes mental illness, as well as physical.

  • The Perfect Shelter

    by Clare Helen Welsh 

    2020 4 to 9 years 

    • Picture books

    It’s the perfect day to build a shelter, the perfect day for a family expedition, the perfect day to play in a den. However, joy turns to concern as it becomes clear that the narrator’s sister is sick. This beautiful book tackles a tough subject with real tenderness.

  • Charlie Changes into a Chicken

    by Sam Copeland, illustrated by Sarah Horne 

    2019 6 to 12 years 

    Something strange happens to Charlie at random times for no apparent reason: he changes into animals. This book cleverly portrays ways of dealing with stress and anxiety, and provides some sound advice throughout. Brilliant and positive. 

  • House of Robots

    by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein 

    2014 6 to 12 years 

    • Science fiction

    Patterson and Grabenstein create a funny, easily read novel, liberally aided by Juliana Neufeld’s illustrations, but beneath the crazy adventures is a story of school-bullying, of a gravely sick little sister, and a boy isolated from his peers by his family situation.

  • Ella on the Outside

    by Cath Howe 

    2018 6 to 12 years 

    • Chapter books

    Ella’s going through a lot of changes – a new home, a new school, and a big family secret to keep under wraps. But how far will she go to stay friends with popular girl Lydia? An enormously entertaining read that will strike a chord with many young readers.

  • Lalani of the Distant Sea

    by Erin Entrada Kelly 

    2020 9 to 12 years 

    • Adventure
    • Fantasy
    • Myths and legends

    Lalani lives on an island ruled by a cruel menyoro, where people live in fear of the spirit of the nearby Mount Kahna. But when her mother gets ill, Lalani realises she must trust in the great magic of the island and embark on a quest to find a cure. A beautiful novel woven with mythology and magic, and a warning about what can happen when we don’t understand and respect nature.

  • Pirates of Darksea

    by Catherine Doyle 

    2024 9 to 12 years 

    • Adventure
    • Fantasy

    When Max answers the call to join Captain O’Malley’s pirate ship instead of his brother, who’s ill, it’s the start of a rip-roaring fantastical adventure. A page-turner that will have children gripped and moved.  

  • The Tiger Who Sleeps Under My Chair

    by Hannah Foley 

    2023 9 to 12+ years 

    • Behavioural/​emotional/​social

    In 1884, Emma Linden dreams of being a fossil hunter like her hero Mary Anning – but her world comes crashing down when her brother James becomes mysteriously ill. Meanwhile, in 2023, football-mad Jude finds a friend in Rosie Linden, who is plagued by visions of tigers and the need to protect the ones she loves.

  • Dandelion Clocks

    by Rebecca Westcott 

    2014 9 to 12 years 

    • Autistic spectrum conditions

    Powerful, memorable and accessible, the book also boasts a very positive depiction of a character with Asperger’s Syndrome.

  • The Last Dragon

    by Polly Ho-Yen, illustrated by Charis Loke 

    2024 9 to 12 years 

    • Adventure
    • Chapter books

    An encounter with a real-life dragon in Milton Keynes helps 12-year-old Yara learn who she is.  

  • Ghosts

    by Raina Telgemeier 

    2022 9 to 12 years 

    • Fantasy
    • Graphic novels

    Cat is moving with her family to a new town in Northern California where the colder, wetter climate will be better for her sister Maya’s cystic fibrosis. She’s not overjoyed about leaving her life and friends behind.

  • Operation Nativity

    by Jenny Pearson, illustrated by Katie Kear 

    2022 9 to 12 years 

    • Adventure
    • Chapter books
    • Fantasy
    • Funny

    When the Archangel Gabriel inadvertently blasts several members of the nativity into a present-day Hampshire village, siblings Oscar and Molly embark on an epic quest to return them to Bethlehem and save Christmas. Bursting with humour, energy and plenty of heart, this entertaining tale is guaranteed to get readers in the festive mood.

  • The Final Year

    by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton 

    2023 9 to 12 years 

    • Chapter books
    • Poetry and rhyme

    When he falls out with his best friend and then his little brother is rushed into hospital, Nate’s world is turned upside-down. This incredibly powerful novel, written entirely in free verse and accompanied by thoughtful illustrations, is an emotional read.

  • Who Let the Gods Out?

    by Maz Evans 

    2017 9 to 12+ years 

    • Adventure
    • Fantasy
    • Myths and legends
    • Thriller

    A quirky fantasy adventure in which a human boy and a Greek goddess accidentally release an immortal supervillain who is determined to take over the world – and maybe even the universe.

  • A Pocketful of Stars

    by Aisha Bushby 

    2019 9 to 12 years 

    • Around the world

    Safiya must uncover the truth of her mother’s history to help her survive the present. A beautifully written and page-turning read, set in London and Kuwait, that deals with changing friendships, family dynamics and learning how to say goodbye. 

  • The Mystery of the Missing Mum

    by Frances Moloney 

    2022 9 to 12 years 

    • Chapter books
    • Funny

    Nine days before Christmas, Jake’s world is turned upside-down when he wakes up to discover that his mum has disappeared. Desperately concerned about her welfare, he cannot understand why nobody else seems worried.

  • The Rollercoaster Boy

    by Lisa Thompson, illustrated by Gemma Correll 

    2022 9 to 12 years 

    • Adventure
    • Chapter books
    • Funny

    Todd’s life is like a rollercoaster ride, with endless twists and turns, exacerbated by the unpredictable behaviour of his mentally ill father. A wonderful, multi-layered story, with an intriguing plot, fabulous characters and plenty of humour. 

  • The Island at the End of Everything

    by Kiran Millwood Hargrave 

    2017 9 to 12+ years 

    • Around the world
    • Historical

    Amihan lives on the secluded island of Culion with her sick mum, who has leprosy. But when the government decides the island must be quarantined, Ami and all the children who don’t have the disease are forced to leave – while her mum must stay behind, along with everything Ami has ever known.

  • In Darkling Wood

    by Emma Carroll 

    2015 9 to 12+ years 

    • Ghost story
    • Historical

    An unusual and engaging dual-narrative tale about love, loss, faith and complex family relationships.

  • Boom Boom

    2023 12+ years 

    • Around the world
    • Coming-of-age

    A heartwarming, heartbreaking story about one Nigerian family whose life is blighted by sickle-cell anaemia and a remarkable talking dog who helps in the search for a bone marrow donor.