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Hunter, Mollie. A Sound of Chariots. London, U.K.: Hamish Hamilton, 1972.
Although written about 30 years ago the truthfulness and power in this novel transcends the time period between the date of publication, and the World War I setting and the present day. Bridie's father dies, due to injuries received during World War I, when she is nine. The novel begins when Bridie is told of his death and then goes back into Bridie's memories of her special relationship with her father. It then continues until Bridie leaves home for her first job in Edinburgh five years later. The strong relationship between Bridie and her father is fully explored in the novel, as is the family's grief, but especially that of Bridie and her mother. The realities of this grief are detailed and ring true. A powerful novel.
PARENT ILLNESS
Hyde, Margaret O. and Lawrence E. Hyde. Meeting Death. New York, N.Y.: Walker and Company, 1989.
This book is also recommended for the 12-16 Age Group.
Designed for teenagers and older children this book provides information about the concept of death, grief and mourning, and the treatment of death in different cultures. Chapters are: Meeting Death; Ghosts, Superstitions, and Celebrations; What is "Dead"?; Death and the Children; Dying the Good Death; Death by Suicide; Playing God; Caring for the Dead; Grief and Mourning.
NON-FICTION
Kidd, Diana, illustrated by Lucy Montgomery. Onion Tears. New York, N.Y.: Orchard Books, 1989.
[Different editions have different illustrators]
Australian
Nam-Huong is adjusting to life in Australia after escaping from the Vietnam War. Having left behind her whole family, and unsure whether they are alive or not, Nam is unsure how to react to normal life. Eventually Nam's memories erupt and she talks through her memories and emotions with a sympathetic teacher, thus enabling her to move on.
PARENT SIBLING OTHER
The Kid's Book about Death and Dying. Edited by Eric E. Rofes. Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, 1985.
Eric Rofes' class studied death as a unit. The class was comprised of children between the ages of 11 and 14. Eric and the students felt it was necessary to share what they had learnt with the public. Students share personal stories among the lessons. Chapters are: Learning to Talk About Death; What is Death?; Funeral Customs; When Your Pet Dies; The Death of Older Relatives and Parents; The Death of Children; Violent Deaths; Is There Life After Death?; What We Have Learned.
NON-FICTION
Krementz, Jill. How it Feels When a Parent Dies. London, U.K.: Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1983.
This book is also recommended for the 12-16 Age Group.
This book is made up of first person interviews and narratives of children who have had a parent die. The ages of the children range from 7 to 16, with parents who had died two months to seven years ago. Each child has their own story to tell about how they coped and their emotions. Some parents died after a long illness, one committed suicide and others died in accidents. The best thing about the book is that it reassures children that they are not alone, that there are others who have been through it and survived.
PARENT NON-FICTION
Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth, illustrated by Heather Preston. Remember the Secret. Berkeley, Calif.: Celestial Arts, 1982.
This is Elisabeth Kübler-Ross' first book for children, based upon her years of experience in the area of death and dying. A deeply spiritual book, based upon Christian theology, Remember the Secret tells of the visits of two guardian angels, Willy and Theresa, to two young children, Peter and Suzy. The "secret" is heaven and God's love, and how to be part of Willy and Theresa's world, which Peter is soon to join. Suzy's prior knowledge of the afterlife aids her grief when Peter dies.
PEER ILLNESS
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LeShan, Eda, illustrated by Paul Giovanopoulos. Learning to Say Good-by: When a Parent Dies. New York, N.Y.: Macmillan, 1976.
One of the original, yet timeless, texts on this topic. Chapters are: It Has Happened; Grieving: the Feelings We Share; Recovering from Grief; Death Teaches Us About Life. The book discusses the importance of memories, and explains why some adults shut children out of grieving process.
PARENT NON-FICTION
Levy, Lee-Anne. This Summer Last. Ringwood, Vic.: Puffin, 1994.
Australian
Abby and her brother Dane are staying with their grandparents for the summer, a year after the death of their little brother. No one in the family discusses Jesse or his death, it is as if he never existed, but all of the family have been affected by his death. Abby remembers him and realises the impact he has had. By the end of the holiday Abby's family have begun to recover.
SIBLING ACCIDENT
Little, Jean, illustrated by Jerry Lazare. Home from Far. Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, 1965.
Although written over thirty years ago, this book does not really show it's age. Jenny's twin brother, Michael, dies in a car accident and Jenny loses part of her identity, that of one of the Macgregor twins. Jenny's parents foster a brother and sister. As the brother's name is Mike, and he is close in age to Jenny, many emotions are relived. Jenny believes that her mother didn't grieve for Michael and has, therefore, hidden most of her feelings. However Jenny learns that is was not the case and the family begins to re-establish itself.
SIBLING ACCIDENT
Little, Jean. Mama's Going to Buy You a Mockingbird. New York, N.Y.: Viking Kestrel, 1984.
Jeremy's father is dying of cancer. Jeremy wants to spend time with his father but someone else always intrudes. Eventually Jeremy's father is hospitalised and dies. Jeremy tries to be responsible, as the oldest of the two children, but finds it hard. Jeremy needs to cry but feels he is too old. Jeremy and his sister, Sarah, fight as a way to relieve their grief. In order to live within their diminished means, the family moves into an apartment building. The building is managed by the grandfather of one of Jeremy's father's former students, Tess, with whom Jeremy is building a friendship. The growing friendship with Tess and her grandfather helps Jeremy work through his grief, as does the realisation of what his mother has lost.
PARENT CANCER
MacLachlan, Patricia. Baby. New York, N.Y.: Delacorte Press, 1993.
After the tourists leave the Island at the end of summer Larkin's family is left a baby, Sophie, to care for until her mother can look after her herself. Sophie's arrival creates the chance for Larkin to express her anger at her parents after the death of her newborn baby brother. Her parents never talk about him and didn't name him. Larkin never saw him and has not had her grief recognised and acknowledged. Once her anger is verbalised the family begins to heal.SIBLING INFANT DEATH
Magorian, Michelle. Goodnight Mister Tom. London, U.K.: Puffin, 1983.
A worthy classic. This book deals with many topics including World War II and the evacuation of children from London, and child abuse. The deaths of Will's baby sister, Trudy, and his best friend, Zach, are just part of a powerful whole. Trudy's death is problematic as it is a result of their mother's abuse and neglect brought about by her unstable mental condition. Her subsequent suicide is a relief and provides Will an opportunity to experience a normal childhood. Will cannot fully assimilate Trudy's death because he has to heal himself. Zach's death results in Will withdrawing into himself. But his emergence from grief gives Will the chance to become the child he should always have been. Will realises that he can live without Zach even though [he] still misses him. The BBC telemovie version is also worth viewing.
PEER ACCIDENT
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Mann, Peggy. There are Two Kinds of Terrible. Garden City, N. Y.: Doubleday, 1977.
Robbie has had a terrible summer after breaking his arm, but that kind of terrible is nothing compared to when his mother goes into hospital for tests and never returns. Robbie and his father have not had a close relationship and now have to form a close working relationship. Robbie's grief is realistically drawn, as is his father's, as they move into protective shells. Robbie begins to establish a relationship when he realises that his father has had twenty years of memories to grief for, and a marital relationship he has lost.
PARENT CANCER
Maple, Marilyn, illustrated by Sandy Haight. On the Wings of a Butterfly: a Story About Life and Death. Seattle, WA.: Parenting Press, 1992.
Lisa is dying of cancer and finds comfort and support in her friendship with Sonya, a caterpillar about to turn into a butterfly. The two of them explore their unknown futures together. Lisa's parents comfort her on her journey towards death. Surrounded by her family Lisa dies soon after Sonya emerges from her chrysalis. Once Lisa dies she finds Sonya and travels on Sonya's wings to say goodbye to her family and special friends. This book is based upon the Mexican belief that monarch butterflies carry the spirits of those whose souls have taken wings.
RELATIVE CANCER
Martin, Ann M. Claudia and Crazy Peaches (The Baby-Sitters' Club #78). New York, N.Y.: Scholastic, 1994.
This book is also recommended for the 5-7 Age Group.
One of the popular Baby-Sitters' Club series, this book tells of Claudia's aunt, Peaches' pregnancy and miscarriage. It also mentions Claudia's continuing sense of loss following her grandmother's death (in Claudia and the Sad Good-bye, reviewed below). Incidentally, Peaches does have a baby further on in the series.
RELATIVE MISCARRIAGE
Martin, Ann M. Claudia and the Sad Good-bye (The Baby-Sitters' Club #26). New York, N.Y.: Scholastic, 1989.
This book is also recommended for the 5-7 Age Group.
One of the very popular Baby-Sitters' Club series, this book tells of Claudia's relationship with Mimi, her grandmother, and her grief following Mimi's death. The emotions and experiences of Claudia, her family and friends are believable, and follow the precepts of a grief manual. Although this may make this book seem unworthy it is a good guide to the grief process and accessible to younger children, especially fans of the series.GRANDPARENT ILLNESS
Martin, Ann M. Mary Anne and the Memory Garden (The Baby-Sitters' Club #93). New York, N.Y.: Scholastic, 1996.
This book is also recommended for the 5-7 Age Group.
One of the very popular Baby-Sitters' Club series, this book was written in response to the letters the author had received requesting a story dealing with the death of a classmate, and also drunk driving. This story shows the grief, and the different ways of expressing it, present in a school community following the death of a student. Mary Anne searches for a way to acknowledge and remember her friend Amelia.
PEER ACCIDENT
Mattingley, Christobel, illustrated by Margaret Power. Ginger (Aussie Bites). Ringwood, Vic.: Puffin, 1997.
Australian
This book shows a family's reaction to the death, by dog attack, of two of the family's pet rabbits, most notably Hugo's favourite rabbit Ginger. A touching story which runs the gamut of emotions. The book is very realistic, especially Hugo's comparison of strawberry jam with the congealing blood on Ginger's body. The book ends on a happy note, with the remaining rabbit giving birth to three babies, including a ginger one.
PET ACCIDENT
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