Coping: Books for Teens on Grief & Loss

Buckingham, Robert W. and S.K. Huggard, Coping with Grief (1991) 155.93 B856c (Main only)

Discusses how to deal with different types of grief, in such situations as death, suicide, romantic break-up, and pregnancy. Includes fictional examples and lists of crisis centers and agencies to provide help.

DiGiulio, Robert C., Straight Talk about Death and Dying (1995) 155.937 D569s (FP,LI,PP,SA) ; 155.937 DIGIULIO Straight (EFP)

Discusses how Americans feel about death, teenage encounters with death, how to cope with dying and with death, and the effects of death on survivors' relationships, and suggests ways to find help in bereavement.

Dower, Laura, I Will Remember You : What to Do When Someone You Love Dies : a Guidebook Through Grief for Teens (2001) 155.937 DOWER I will r (EFP only)

An inspirational and accessible guide to coping with loss includes personal stories of death and life from real teens, advice from a renowned grief counselor, and dozens of hands-on, creative exercises to help teens move through their pain.

Fitzgerald, Helen, The Grieving Teen: a Guide for Teenagers and Their Friends (2000) 155.9370835 FITZGERA Grieving (Main only)

The author of The Grieving Child and The Mourning Handbook offers practical, compassionate advice for helping a teenager cope with the death of a parent, friend, or loved one, discussing the emotional impact of bereavement on adolescents, signs and symptoms of a teenager in trouble, and teens' special needs and concerns during the grieving process.

Giddens, Sandra, Frequently Asked Questions About Suicide (2009) 616.858445 GIDDENS (BW, FP, IO)

A guide intended to assist teens at risk for suicide and or who know someone else in a potentially suicidal situation.

Gootman, Marilyn E.; ed. by P. Espeland, When a Friend Dies: a Book for Teens about Grieving and Healing (2005). 155.937 GOOTMAN 2005 (Main, MS, PP; 1994 ed. at FP, SA)

The death of a friend is a wrenching event for anyone at any age. Teenagers especially need help coping with this painful loss. This sensitive book answers questions grieving teens often have, like “How should I be acting?” “Is it wrong to go to parties and have fun?” and “What if I can't handle my grief on my own?” The advice is gentle, non-preachy, and compassionate; the author has seen her own children suffer from the death of a friend, and she knows what teens go through. The revised edition includes new quotes from teens, new resources, and new insights into losing a friend through violence. Also recommended for parents and teachers of teens who have experienced a painful loss.

Grollman, Earl A., Living When a Young Friend Commits Suicide, or Even Starts Talking About It (1999) 362.2830835 GROLLMAN Living w (Main, PP)

Discusses why people commit suicide, how to deal with the various emotions caused by the suicide of someone you know, how to help someone suicidal, religious issues, and popular misconceptions about suicide.

Grollman, Earl A.. Straight Talk about Death for Teenagers: How to Cope with Losing Someone You Love (1993). 155.937 G895s (Main only)

Suggests ways to deal with the grief and other emotions felt after the death of a loved one and to discover how to go on living.

Grosshandler, Janet, Coping When a Parent Dies (1995) 155.937 G914c (Main, ES, FP, IO, LI, PP); 155.937 GROSSHAN (EFP)

Offers teenagers comforting advice on how to cope with the grief, confusion, fears, and trauma of a parent's death.

Hughes, Lynne, You Are Not Alone: Teens Talk About Life After the Loss of a Parent (2005) (Main, FP, IO, LI, PP, SA, EFP)

Through testimonials and helpful advice for coping with death, this guide provides young readers with an informative discussion on the pain of losing one's parent through experienced techniques and guidance for learning to deal with the loss through the various stages of one's young life.

Latta, Sara L., Dealing with the Loss of a Loved One: Focus on Family Matters (2003) 155.937 LATTA (EFP only)

Provides real-life examples of ways that young people and their families deal with grief.

Myers, Edward, When Will I Stop Hurting?: Teens, Loss, and Grief ( 2004) 155.937 MYERS (Main only)

A self-help guide for adolescents coping with bereavement provides an overview of the grieving process and offers insights from bereavement experts and first-hand accounts from teens.

Ruiz, Ruth Ann, Coping with the Death of a Brother or Sister (2001) 155.937 RUIZ (Main, IO, PP, SA)

Explains the different scenarios that can lead to the loss of a sibling, including illness, accident, or murder, and discusses how to cope with the pain and emotions that follow.

Schleifer, Jay, Everything You Need to Know When Someone You Know Has Been Killed (1998) 155.937 S341e (Main, BW, EFP, ES, LI, MS)

Discusses death and the fear of death, explains the emotions experienced when someone you know is killed, and gives strategies to cope with them.

Sjöqvist, Suzanne, editor. Still Here with Me: Teenagers and Children on Losing a Parent (2007) 155.9 STILL (Main, FP, PP, SA)

This collection features the stories of 31 children and teenagers from ages one to 20 who have lost parents in different situations. They describe their feelings and experiences with grief, as well as happy memories. The book is intended for young people who have experienced loss, in addition to parents, counselors, teachers, and social workers, as an example of what to do and say to better support them.

Weiss, Stefanie Iris, Everything You Need to Know About Dealing with Losses (1998) 155.937 WEISS Everythi (Main, ES, LI, MS)

Describes different kinds of losses, including the death of a loved one, the end of a love affair, and the loss of virginity, and suggests such coping mechanisms as the natural grieving process, the finding of a creative outlet, and getting help from others.

Wolfelt, Alan. Healing Your Grieving Heart for Teens: 100 Practical Ideas (2001).155.937 WOLFELT Healing (Main, EFP, ES, LI, MS, PP, SA)

With sensitivity and insight, this series offers suggestions for healing activities that can help survivors learn to express their grief and mourn naturally. Acknowledging that death is a painful, ongoing part of life, they explain how people need to slow down, turn inward, embrace their feelings of loss, and seek and accept support when a loved one dies.

Website:

Resources for Children (and Teens) Experiencing Grief

A local resource guide created in order to make materials available to parents, caregivers, educators and other adults essential in the lives of children experiencing grief. The website is intended to have most of its materials available through your local library or through interlibrary loan from C/WMARS or other Massachusetts library catalogs. Categories listed range from preschool through adults and educators.

HELPLINES FOR GRIEVING OR DEPRESSED TEENS:

National Hopeline Network: 800-784-2433

Samariteens Hotline: Statewide in Massachusetts: 877 870 4673

800-252-TEEN (800-252-8336)

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