Books to Help Kids Deal with Divorce

Last updated: March 28, 2026

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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Emily's Blue Period Poster Image

BOOK

Emily's Blue Period

age 4+

Sensitive story of using art to process difficult emotions.

Cathleen Daly Family Life (2014)

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Road Trip with Max and His Mom Poster Image

BOOK

Road Trip with Max and His Mom

age 6+

Fun road trip sequel explores emotional effects of divorce.

Linda Urban Family Life (2018)

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Weekends with Max and His Dad Poster Image

BOOK

Weekends with Max and His Dad

age 6+

Playful, realistic tale of adjusting to life after divorce.

Linda Urban Family Life (2016)

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Blended Poster Image

BOOK

Blended

age 8+

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

Sharon M. Draper Contemporary Fiction (2018)

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Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures Poster Image

BOOK

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

age 8+

Funny, poignant tale of cynical girl, superpowered squirrel.

Kate DiCamillo Humor (2013)

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Honestly Elliot-TV Image

BOOK

Honestly Elliott

age 8+

Upbeat, tender, informative story about boy with ADHD.

Gillian McDunn Coming of Age (2022)

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Some Kind of Happiness Poster Image

BOOK

Some Kind of Happiness

age 8+

Adventurous girl uncovers family secrets in engrossing read.

Claire Legrand Contemporary Fiction (2016)

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All the Answers Poster Image

BOOK

All the Answers

age 9+

Worried girl gets magical pencil in reassuring story.

Kate Messner School (2015)

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Amelia's Family Ties Poster Image

BOOK

Amelia's Family Ties

age 9+

Realistic treatment of subject of divorce.

Marissa Moss Friendship (2000)

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Just Pretend Poster Image

BOOK

Just Pretend

age 9+

Making fantasy fiction helps tween cope in heartfelt memoir.

Tori Sharp Graphic Novel (2021)

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Love Like Sky: Book 1 Poster Image

BOOK

Love Like Sky: Book 1

age 9+

Moving story of girl adjusting to being in blended family.

Leslie C. Youngblood Coming of Age (2018)

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Sisters Poster Image

BOOK

Sisters

age 9+

Funny, moving memoir is great for younger comics fans.

Raina Telgemeier Autobiography (2014)

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The Baby-Sitters Club: The Summer Before Poster Image

BOOK

The Baby-Sitters Club: The Summer Before

age 9+

Slow-paced but sweet prequel to classic friendship series.

Ann M. Martin Friendship (2010)

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The Great Treehouse War Poster Image

BOOK

The Great Treehouse War

age 9+

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

Lisa Graff Family Life (2017)

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The List of Things That Will Not Change Poster Image

BOOK

The List of Things That Will Not Change

age 9+

Pitch-perfect divorce tale speaks to modern family life.

Rebecca Stead Family Life (2020)

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Best of the Best Poster Image

BOOK

Best of the Best

age 10+

Tween baseball book provides tips for sports and friendship.

Tim Green Sports (2011)

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The Thing About Leftovers Poster Image

BOOK

The Thing About Leftovers

age 10+

Tween finds her footing in bittersweet post-divorce tale.

C.C. Payne Emotions (2016)

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Huda F Wants to Know book cover: A young hijabi girl wearing a feather boa and glasses stands with her parents on either side

BOOK

Huda F Wants to Know?

age 12+

Depression, therapy stigma in thoughtful graphic novel.

Huda Fahmy Graphic Novel (2025)

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Theodore Boone: The Abduction Poster Image

BOOK

Theodore Boone: The Abduction

age 12+

More mature themes in second entry of popular series.

John Grisham Mystery (2011)

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What Happened to Goodbye Poster Image

BOOK

What Happened to Goodbye

age 12+

Thoughtful look at teen finding self after parents' divorce.

Sarah Dessen Coming of Age (2011)

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