Books about grief and loss for 9 to 12 year olds

Set on the colourful, sun-soaked island of Jamaica, this beautiful, compelling story combines an intriguing quest with a story of grief and heartache.

Following the death of her parents, Blue Wing moves in with Siringen, a gentle village elder. When a new girl arrives on the island, a surprisingly, sisterly bond begins to form. A beautiful novel exploring complex emotions of grief and guilt.

A compelling mix of Caribbean folklore and the story of a boy’s overwhelming grief create extraordinary tension in this creepy ghost story set in Jamaica.

This gentle guide for children experiencing feelings of grief and loss is written by Julie Stokes, a clinical psychologist and founder of childhood bereavement charity Winston’s Wish.

Since her mum died, Sadé has been escaping to a magical imaginary land to deal with her grief – but the lines between the real world and her imagination start blurring as her feelings begin to get too much. A beautiful story that tackles big feelings in an accessible and relatable way.

Set in New Zealand, touching on indigenous culture and exploring the beaches, forests, wilderness and tourist towns of the North Island, this is a wonderful coming-of-age story with hope at its heart. 

Rhys has to move to London from Wales, to live with his dad. But Dad doesn’t know about his new dog Worthington … Beautifully moving. 

Connor’s mum has cancer and life is changing. There is the nightmare, then there is school, where people avoid him, or persecute him. And then there is the immense, mythic Monster.

Ancient magic and folklore weave into a modern day story of a boy grieving for his father in this beautiful tale for older readers.