Books to Help Kids Deal with Divorce

When a family goes through divorce or separation, kids can experience a jumble of emotions. Check out our picks for books that help kids and teens explore those feelings. They'll meet characters whose parents are divorced or in the process of divorcing, characters who worry that their parents are headed for divorce, or characters dealing with the aftermath of divorce -- including their parents' new relationships. For other books that deal with challenging personal situations, check out our Coming-of-Age Books and Books About Families.

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BOOK

Emily's Blue Period

age 4+

Sensitive story of using art to process difficult emotions.

By: Cathleen Daly (2014)
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BOOK

Road Trip with Max and His Mom

age 6+

Fun road trip sequel explores emotional effects of divorce.

By: Linda Urban (2018)
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BOOK

Weekends with Max and His Dad

age 6+

Playful, realistic tale of adjusting to life after divorce.

By: Linda Urban (2016)
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BOOK

Blended

age 8+

Honest, warm story of family, identity, police brutality.

By: Sharon M. Draper (2018)
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BOOK

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

age 8+

Funny, poignant tale of cynical girl, superpowered squirrel.

By: Kate DiCamillo (2013)
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BOOK

Honestly Elliott

age 8+

Upbeat, tender, informative story about boy with ADHD.

By: Gillian McDunn (2022)
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BOOK

Some Kind of Happiness

age 8+

Adventurous girl uncovers family secrets in engrossing read.

By: Claire Legrand (2016)
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BOOK

All the Answers

age 9+

Worried girl gets magical pencil in reassuring story.

By: Kate Messner (2015)
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BOOK

Amelia's Family Ties

age 9+

Realistic treatment of subject of divorce.

By: Marissa Moss (2000)
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BOOK

The Baby-Sitters Club: The Summer Before

age 9+

Slow-paced but sweet prequel to classic friendship series.

By: Ann M. Martin (2010)
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BOOK

The Great Treehouse War

age 9+

Zany kids-vs.-parents tale is set against a tough divorce.

By: Lisa Graff (2017)
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BOOK

Just Pretend

age 9+

Making fantasy fiction helps tween cope in heartfelt memoir.

By: Tori Sharp (2021)
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BOOK

The List of Things That Will Not Change

age 9+

Pitch-perfect divorce tale speaks to modern family life.

By: Rebecca Stead (2020)
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BOOK

Love Like Sky: Book 1

age 9+

Moving story of girl adjusting to being in blended family.

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BOOK

Sisters

age 9+

Funny, moving memoir is great for younger comics fans.

By: Raina Telgemeier (2014)
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BOOK

Best of the Best

age 10+

Tween baseball book provides tips for sports and friendship.

By: Tim Green (2011)
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BOOK

The Thing About Leftovers

age 10+

Tween finds her footing in bittersweet post-divorce tale.

By: C.C. Payne (2016)
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BOOK

Theodore Boone: The Abduction

age 12+

More mature themes in second entry of popular series.

By: John Grisham (2011)
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BOOK

What Happened to Goodbye

age 12+

Thoughtful look at teen finding self after parents' divorce.

By: Sarah Dessen (2011)
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BOOK

Between Mom and Jo

age 13+

Tender tale about a boy whose moms split up.

By: Julie Anne Peters (2008)