Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Death and grief

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Book SynopsisWhen a loved one dies, it can be hard to know how to explain it to a young child, particularly if you are grieving the loss yourself. Sensitively written and gently illustrated, Something Very Sad Happened explains death in developmentally appropriate terms for two-and three-year-old childern. It reassures the child that it is okay to feel sad, and that love never dies. Ages 2-3Trade Review“No one likes to think about it, and even fewer plan for it, but explaining death to a toddler can be a difficult task…. The author acknowledges that a book on death written just for little ones is a bit niche but emphasizes in the foreword the need to properly discuss this tough situation with young children…. An important book to have on hand for those who serve toddlers.” —School Library Journal “Essential, powerful, and psychologically researched resource to equip adults to model healthy grieving and help children at this age with loss.” —Booklist “Something Very Sad Happened is impressively exceptional and an invaluable addition to family, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections.” —Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisOne of Bank Street’s 2021 Best Children’s Books of the Year Ethan is gone, but he won’t be forgotten as his sister rallies her family to never forget. Includes a note with recommendations of what to say and how to help children after the death of a loved one. Trade Review“A family begins healing following a devastating loss… the child has real agency; Sarah effects change in the family dynamic that leads to cathartic healing. The delicate illustrations are expressive and effective. Useful psychologist's tips in the backmatter guide adults in helping children discuss the death of a family member. Gentle, comforting bibliotherapy.” * Kirkus Reviews *“This touching picture book is heartbreakingly beautiful. The feelings that Sarah has as well as her parents are gently there for the reader to think about, especially if they have lost a loved one. Telling the story from Sarah’s point of view gives a voice to the feelings children may have after losing a sibling or other special person.” * WriteKnit *“A heartfelt and tender book about a family dealing with the loss of a child…. This book is a great resource for families to help their child deal with grief.” * Talking About Books for Kids *“Remembering Ethan is a timely story concerning the loss of a loved one and the grief a young child and her parents inevitably experience. It is a valuable contribution to the seemingly limited body of children’s literature on the topic…. The warm illustrations throughout this poignant text bring it to life, adding emotion and realism to the contents.” * Seattle Book Review *“Broaching a difficult but important topic, this heartbreaking story takes on a family’s loss in a delicate and relatable way… the work encourages communication and connection in desperate times…. This is an important work on mental health, for any collection aimed at early childhood audiences.” * School Library Journal *“A heart-breaking and heart-wrenching, a fact of life of resource for children that have lost a sibling.” * Sunday Gatherings *

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Book SynopsisThis important follow-up to the bestselling, groundbreaking, and inspiringSomething Happened in Our Town, is a much-needed story to help communities in the aftermath of gun violence.Goddard Riverside CBC Youth Book Prize for Social Justice 2021 Shortlist NCSS-CBC Notable Social Students Trade Book for Young People National Parenting Product Award Winner Finalist, Foreword Book Awards When Miles''s cousin Keisha is injured in a shooting, he realizes people can work together to reduce the likelihood of violence in their community. With help from friends and family, Miles learns to use his imagination and creativity to help him cope with his fears. This book can help provide parents with helpful messages of reassurance and empowerment. Includes an extensive Note to Parents and Caregivers with guidelines for discussing community gun violence with children, and sample dialogues. Trade ReviewThis simply stated story and the note to readers—chock-full of helpful prompts—could be useful to caregivers looking to help children through trauma… the authors clear up misconceptions by citing the disproportionate circumstances that lead to increases in community violence… A suitable guide to start the conversation about gun violence with children. * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Guardian children''s book prize 2015I''m the one who''s left behind. I''m the one to tell the tale. I knew them both... knew how they lived and how they died. Claire is Ella Grey''s best friend. She''s there when the whirlwind arrives on the scene: catapulted into a North East landscape of gutted shipyards; of high arched bridges and ancient collapsed mines. She witnesses a love so dramatic it is as if her best friend has been captured and taken from her. But the loss of her friend to the arms of Orpheus is nothing compared to the loss she feels when Ella is taken from the world. This is her story - as she bears witness to a love so complete; so sure, that not even death can prove final.Trade ReviewInfused with lyricism and with the fire and oddness of adolescence. Fresh, involving and lucid, it is a song in itself, and teens will find it fills them with poignant longing and joy. * The Daily Telegraph *A desperately romantic and deeply lyrical re-imagining of Orpheus and Eurydice... David Almond at his best. * * * * * * Bookbag *Passages of magic. * Financial Times *Beautifully written... poetic and allusive. * Irish Times *Spell-binding... impossible to resist... breathless, intoxicating prose. [Almond's] books seem to exist in their own otherworldly universe, outside all the trends in modern publishing, yet resolutely of the now. * The Glasgow Herald *Lyrical and dreamlike, this beautifully written story conjures up the insane intensity of first love and the effect it has on those caught up in its slipstream. Authentic teenage characters and attitudes, and Almond's control of emotion is superb. * Daily Mail *Almond's writing is superb. * Irish Daily Mail *A ravishing, ingenious novel told in Almond's own hypnotic northern lilt. * The Scotsman *A retelling of the myth of Orpheus... Almond's version is a revelation: his poetic prose seeps into your blood like word-venom until you can't imagine reading anything else (Children's Book of the Week) * The Times *a strong sense of mystery...lyrical... poetic...moves in a deliberate dreamlike way. A beautiful book that works on several levels A triumph. (Marcus Sedgwick) * The Guardian *A plangent tale of adolescent passion which re-packages the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Almond injects it with lyrical beauty and life. * Books for Keeps *Intriguing adaptation of the tale of Orpheus, skilfully crafted and blended with modern teen life and a real flavour of Northumberland. Haunting. * Peters eGazette *Almond is an incredibly powerful storyteller. Poetic... dreamlike and lyrical. A devastatingly poignant novel. * Newcastle Chronicle *A desperately romantic and deeply lyrical re-imagining of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Full of the hums and thrums of emotions, landscape, music and poetry, it's David Almond at his best. * The Bookbag *Bliddy marvellous, as his Geordie protagonists would say. * The Independent on Sunday *A masterly retelling of the Orpheus myth. Lyrical prose is matched with equally beautiful passages. * Financial Times *Extraordinary. * Metro *Beautiful writing. * The Independent *Almond's lyrical prose fits the story perfectly. * The Mail on Sunday *A revelation. Poetic prose seeps into your blood like word venom until you can't imagine reading anything else. * The Times *Beautiful and bewitching. * Daily Express *The writing is just so magical... A stunning book which I will definitely read again. -- The Best Children's Books of 2014 * The Guardian *David Almond is a dazzling writer...exceptional... a breathtaking novel from a literary master. * Daily Express *A daring reworking of Orpheus amd Eurydice... a sense of transcendence... lush poetic prose. * Sunday Times *Haunting poetic novel. * Irish Times *If somebody asked me to describe A Song for Ella Grey in word, I would have to tell them that I couldn't...it would be impossible to write it off in just a word * The Guardian Online *It's a desperately romantic and deeply lyrical reimagining of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Full of the hums and thrums of emotions, landscape, music and poetry, it's David Almond at his best * The Bookbag *A revelation: his poetic prose seeps into your blood like word venom until you can't imagine reading anything else -- Alex O'Connell * The Times *Extraordinary -- Imogen Russell Williams * The Metro *Almond's lyrical prose fits the story perfectly * The Mail on Sunday *Beautiful writing...this is an author always on the side of the young, and as such offers a valuable counterweight to fashionable gloom in other teenage writing -- Nicholas Tucker * The Independent *I thought the author told the story extremely well and I would recommend this book to anyone in their teens. -- Charlie Barraclough (aged 14) * Western Gazette *Skillfully crafted and blended...accessible with engaging main characters and haunting memorable plot. * Peters eGazette *Intensely lyrical and oddly haunting...Almond's prose is a delight, each word so carefully chosen and melded to make a myth of contemporary adolescence * School Librarian *Capturing the intensity of first love and its power to overcome even death, Almond's prose is a delight, each word so carefully chosen and melded to make a myth of comtemporary adolescence...will surprise and enthrall teenage readers in equal measure * Scool Librarian *David Almond is a powerful storyteller and I was completely swept away by his latest poetic prose * Carousel *A challenging but riveting read -- Sophie Innes, Trinity Academy * Teen Titles *It is a challenging but riveting read * Teen Titles *Almond's poetic prose is especially apt for this tale -- one that moves in a deliberate, dreamlike way -- Marcus Sedgewick * The Guardian *This is the most beautifully written, haunting book for young adults that I have ever read * Bristol Magazine *This year I loved A Song for Ella Grey by David Almond ... a powerful, lyrical book that's absorbing and moving and haunting * The guardian.com *[David Almond] is becoming the Gabriel Garcia Marquez of Children's Fiction. -- Janni Howker * TES *This is absolutely beautiful and quite possibly my favourite Almond novel to date. The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is retold against a wild Northumbrian landscape: life, death, love and myths. Just wonderful. -- Fiona Noble * The Bookseller *Almond is an incredibly powerful storyteller; his poetic prose perfectly suits this type of tale, being dream-like and lyrical...a devastatingly poignant novel. -- Jayne Howarth * Manchester Evening News *

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Book SynopsisJamie and Andrew are strangers, but they''re two of the last people left alive. They don''t know what they''ll find on their dangerous journey ... but they may just find each other. A queer romance about courage, hope and humanity for fans of They Both Die at the End, The Hunger Games and Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda.When the Superflu wipes out most of the population, Jamie finds himself completely alone in a cabin in the woods - until an injured stranger crosses his path.Life is dangerous now and, armed with a gun, Jamie goes to pull the trigger. But there''s something about Andrew ... something that stops Jamie in his tracks. Jamie takes him in, and as Andrew heals and they eventually step out into the strange new world, their relationship starts to feel like more than just friendship ...But trouble isn''t far behind. As the boys make a perilous journey south, they''ll come face to face with a world torn apart and society in Trade ReviewTense, exciting, sometimes heartbreaking and always romantic, All That's Left in the World explores what it means to hold onto hope and humanity when the worst case scenario becomes reality. With characters you'll adore, and a fast-paced, mysterious plot that keeps you turning the pages as fast as you can devour them, this book is not to be missed. * Sophie Gonzales, author of Only Mostly Devastated *

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Book Synopsis''The whistling had started on their first night. At first, Layah thought it was bird song - a high thin sound which became a melody, rising and falling. And each night, it returned.''Strange things have been happening to Layah and her younger sister, Izzie, ever since their mother dragged them to a rain-soaked cottage miles from anywhere in the Lake District: there is a peculiar whistling at night, a handful of unusual feathers appear on their doorstep and there are murmurings of a shadowed woman in the forest. And their mother is behaving very oddly. Layah is mourning the loss of her dear grandmother in Poland - and can almost hear her Babcia''s voice telling her the old myths and fairy tales from that magical place. And as the holiday takes on a dark twist, Layah begins to wonder if the myths might just be real.A thrilling debut from remarkable new talent, Eve Wersocki Morris.Praise for The Bird Singers''A deliciously spine-tiTrade ReviewA deliciously spine-tingling story with sisterhood at its heart. I loved it. -- A.F. SteadmanA captivating story, full of intrigue. -- Abi ElphinstonePolish folklore meets the Lake District in a spooky page-turning mystery. I devoured it in one gulp. -- Phil HickesThe Bird Singers is a gloriously dark fantasy from an exciting new voice. A magical adventure with friendship and family at its heart. Eve Wersocki Morris's debut is one to look out for! -- Liz KesslerDark, intoxicating, so full of killer twists I didn't know who to trust! This is an exciting, highly original debut from a great storyteller. -- Emma CarrollA wonderful tale of dark magic, supernatural forces and family secrets * The Week Junior *Children's Book of the Week - an assured debut from a notable new talent -- Nicolette Jones * The Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis''The middle grade book everyone''s going to be obsessed with this summer'' Louie Stowell, author of LokiFor fans of ONWARD and A Monster Calls, this is an unmissable illustrated story about grief and love for young readers 9 and up.Sadé has always loved escaping to her imaginary, rainbow-bright world. When her mum dies, the colours in her mind fade like old jeans, and her shadow beasts appear: Tiger with black claws, Hen with cracked feathers, Fox with giant hind legs and Lion with piercing blue eyes. The shadow beasts are trouble. They follow Sadé to school and cause chaos wherever they go. Then Sadé joins a grief support group to work through her emotions, and slowly her beasts retreat. But just as it''s her turn to perform her poetry at the school talent show, they''re back, larger and stronger than ever ... can Sadé find the words to remember her mum in her own unique way, and banish her shadow beasts for good?Trade ReviewA beautiful story that tackles big feelings in an accessible and relatable way. * BookTrust *

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