Earlier this year, I had a class come in right after finishing their classroom read of Kate DiCamillo's
The Tiger Rising. There had been some tears in the room, from one girl in particular--who promptly came up to me and asked "Where are the sad books?" She wanted to read more of them!
It's always good to remind myself that even if a genre (no matter how niche) isn't for me, I still need to be familiar with it. I hate that feeling of utter blankness I sometimes get when a student asks for a certain type of book; it feels like such a librarian failure! Fortunately, I had to read a lot of sad books in my grad school children's lit class, so I feel somewhat qualified in this arena, and it seems like there are a lot of sadder, heavier books coming right now.
For the most part, I really don't like sad books. I'm pretty sensitive, and a sad book has the potential to make me feel really, really down for several days. I've read most of the below books, but even if I hadn't, I've heard from sources I trust that these are great books.
1.
Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
Main character Rose has OCD and Asperger's, and more importantly, she loves homonyms. Even her own name is a homonym! She lives with her dad, and the two of them aren't close--her dad spends most evenings at the local bar, and he often doesn't have the patience or compassion to raise his daughter in the way that she needs. One thing he did do, though, is bring her a dog: a wonderful, special dog whom Rose names Rain. Rain gets Rose through her sad and scary moments, helps her connect to the kids at school, and makes her feel like she has a home. But one night a huge storm hits town, and Rose's father insists on letting Rain out--and now Rain is missing. Rose is determined to find her dog and bring him home, even if the odds are stacked against her.
I often describe this as "the saddest book I've ever read," and I usually warn people of that ahead of time. I know people who love it, but it was too much for me!
2.
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
Coyote and her dad have been on the road for a while. They drive around the country in a school bus they've refurbished to also serve as their home. The two of them are happy, and they don't need anyone but each other. But then Coyote finds out that the park near her childhood home is being torn up, and she
has to get home to find the memory box she buried there with her mom and sisters, before all the bad things happened. In order to get there, she has to trick her dad into driving back toward Washington state without him knowing where they're going, because the the only thing he won't do for Coyote is anything involving home. Her plan to get them there causes them to cross paths with several new people, all on their own journeys. By the end of the book, you'll definitely have cried a few times--but your heart will feel good, too.
3.
Nine, Ten by Nora Raleigh Baskin
This is one of the books I haven't read, but I've heard from from a few teachers that it's fantastic. Everyone knows what happened on September 11, 2001--but a few days before that, our four main characters were dealing with their own problems and trying to live their own lives. Aimee is starting a new school and missing her mom, who travels to New York for business a lot; Naheed is also at a new school, and she's suddenly getting funny looks because of the headscarf she wears. Will's whole family is coping with the sudden loss of his father, and Sergio is struggling to accept and live with his complicated, partly absentee family. These four have never met, but the events of September 11 will bring them into each other's lives in ways they can't even imagine.
4.
The Line Tender by Kate Allen
Lucy's mom was a biologist who devoted her life to studying sharks, until she suddenly died while on a boat collecting data. Since then, Lucy's dad has been distant and sad, and she's relied on her best friend Fred and his family to keep her afloat. When Fred dies in a freak accident, Lucy has to be the one to pull her family together, connect the threads between her father, a neighbor, and a rough fisherman, and try to finish her mother's research on Great White Sharks, a topic that's suddenly become very timely. I have to be honest: I didn't actually finish this book, because it was too dreary for me, but I know it's been well-received, and there is a copy in my library.
5.
Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur
11-year-old Aubrey's father and sister have died in a car crash, and Aubrey is living by herself, not recognizing that her mother is no longer able to care for her. But she has everything she needs: Spaghetti-o's and her pet fish, Sammy. She hasn't told anyone about what happened, because she doesn't know how to. The words won't come out, and it's easier not to say anything. The only time she can really express herself is through letter writing.
Things are forced to change for Aubrey when her grandma finds out what happened and takes Aubrey home with her. She suddenly has a new house, a new school, and if that weren't enough, she has to grapple with the fact that her mother isn't there for her the way she should be.
This book has so many devastating storylines, but I did feel hopeful at the end. Aubrey and the supporting cast were well-developed, complex characters, and while I wouldn't recommend it to every student, it's a beautiful story, and I do think it would be helpful for students suffering loss.
6.
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Look, I haven't read this book since 6th grade, but I remember being
shocked when Jesse finds out Leslie has died, and rereading that part over and over, because surely I misread something, right? Right?! Nope. What made this book even more gut-wrenching for me is how much blame Jesse places on himself for her death. I didn't just feel sad when I read this book; I remember the horror that someone could carry guilt, even misplaced, like that with them for so long.
7.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Was I the only one traumatized by this book as a child? It seems like it had an impact on everyone, but I lost sleep over this. I often think of this book as the original dystopia, although I'm sure there were others before it. When Jonah is given his apprenticeship at age 12, he doesn't get the standard community job he was expecting: he's apprenticed to the Giver, a mysterious old man who has always stood apart from society. And what he has to teach Jonah has repercussions for everyone. Jonah's life,
and the lives of those around him, have been carefully controlled and chosen for them. They live in a world without pain, without fighting, and without hardship--but also without real love, happiness or choice. I love this book because it shows kids the world in a whole new perspective, but the scene where he finds out what happens to some of the babies still makes me cry (this is the scene that kept me up at night). The ambiguity of the ending stayed with me as an adult more than when I read the book at age 11--I remembered the book having a happy ending, but as an adult, I couldn't tell if Jonah made his escape or not.
I know there are many, many more sad books--what are the ones your students (or you) love that I left off? Share below!
