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  1. FAQs

For young people 11-18

These books and resources may be helpful for young people aged 11 to 18-years old who have been bereaved. 

For further help in finding resources, email [email protected] or call our Helpline on 0800 02 888 40.

Please note: Inclusion on this list does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by Child Bereavement UK, as we are aware that whether a book is helpful or not is subjective and as such is a decision that can only be made by the individual reader.

About death and grief

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A teenage guide to coping when someone dies (fold out A3 guide)

This resource can be folded down to fit in a pocket.  It contains practical advice and guidance for a young person managing confusing emotions when someone important in their life dies. Original text written by a young person whose father died.

The text can also be found in our section For Young People - what helps to move forward.

Download for free or buy from Child Bereavement UK

Coping with grief when someone you love dies suddenly

This free booklet aims to help you understand emotions and feelings commonly suffered after a sudden death. It provides straightforward advice on how to cope and who can help you to recover.

Available to download from Sudden

Letters from the Grief Club

Beth French and Kate Moreton

A book containing letters from a diverse group of bereaved young adults, written to themselves on the day their loved one died. The letters reflect on their immediate grief whilst offering advice and support to their current selves. The editors, Beth French and Kate Moreton, have experienced loss themselves, with Beth losing her mum, and Kate losing her dad at the young age of 17.

Buy from Amazon

Living with loss: a grief guide for young people

This publication is written for adolescents, providing information, advice, and activities to support them when faced with the death of someone close to them.

The booklet, 'What Happens Next: A Funeral Guide for Young People' accompanies this guide.

Available to download from SeeSaw

Michael Rosen's Sad Book

Michael Rosen

A very personal story that speaks to adults as well as children. The author describes feeling sad after the death of his son and what he does to try to cope with it.

Buy from Amazon

Sometimes Life Sucks: When someone you love dies

Molly Carlile

Teenagers experience loss in all kinds of ways. Whether it’s the death of a grandparent, pet or school friend, a teen fatality, a peer with terminal illness, living without a mum or dad, or the death of a celebrity. Like everyone else teenagers also struggle to come to terms with their shock and grief. Full of great tips, stories and gentle advice, Sometimes Life Sucks helps teens to navigate their personal experience of grief.

Buy from Amazon

We Get It

Heather L. Servaty-Seib and David C. Fajgenbaum

A unique collection of 33 narrative by bereaved students and young adults in America, this book aims to help young adults who are grieving and provide guidance for those who seek to support them. It has been described as like having a group in a book.

Buy on Amazon

When someone special dies - for young people

Child Bereavement UK

This leaflet has been prepared with the help of bereaved families. It aims to help children when they have been bereaved. Also essential for A&E, Intensive care units and professionals who support families.

Download for free or buy from Child Bereavement UK

You will be OK

Julia Stokes

In this honest, comforting and strength-building guide Julie Stokes, a clinical psychologist and founder of childhood bereavement charity Winston’s Wish, provides readers with the tools they need to navigate this tough and turbulent time. Packed with practical exercises, such as creating memory boxes and managing different kinds of memories using ‘memory stones’, this guide will give readers helpful ways to manage their grief so they can begin to move forward with life.

Buy from Amazon

Published: 30th November, 2022

Updated: 8th December, 2022

Author:

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Activity books and resources to support bereaved 11 - 18-year-olds

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Grief in Children: A Handbook for Adults

Atle Dyregov

This fully updated second edition of “Grief in Children” explains children’s understanding of death at different ages and gives a detailed outline of exactly how the adults around them can best help them cope.

Buy from Amazon

Someone Very Important Has Just Died: Immediate Help for People Caring for Children of All Ages at the Time of a Close Bereavement 

Mary Turner

This short book tackles the sensitive issues of what to tell children, how far to include them in the events immediately after the death, and how to tend to their physical and emotional needs. The material is suitable for anyone regardless of their background and beliefs, and is supplemented with information on where to go to obtain longer term bereavement support.

Buy from Amazon

Supporting Teenagers Through Grief And Loss: Practical Ideas & Creative Approaches

Anna Jacobs

A wealth of advice and helpful suggestions for those helping children through bereavement and loss. This book gives an overview of different behaviours you may encounter in school and how to respond, as well as discussing questions children may ask and how to answer them. Children's understanding of death varies according to stage of development and the author provides guidance on age-appropriate, honest responses along with a toolkit of creative and arts activities to help children examine and understand their emotions, physical feelings and memories.

Buy from Amazon

Talking About Death: A Dialogue Between Parent and Child

Earl Grollman

This guide to helping children cope with death includes an illustrated, read-along story, and discusses coping with a child’s anger, denial or guilt, and how to discuss funerals, cemeteries and grief.

Buy from Amazon

The Little Book of Bereavement for Schools

Ian Gilbert

A short, personal account of the way various schools tried to support the author’s three children after the death of their mother.  A book for a parent to take into any school which is seeking to support grieving pupils. It opens with a brief 15-point guide which would be a helpful starting point.

Buy from Amazon

Tough Stuff Journal - Someone has died

Pete English

Designed in free form for a bereaved young person to work through on their own or with a trusted adult, this journal asks questions and invites the young person to express feelings and emotions that are otherwise difficult to articulate. Useful for schools, youth leaders, parents or anyone working with a bereaved child or young person from 9 to 13 years old.

Available to buy from AtaLoss.org

When your partner dies: Supporting your children

Child Bereavement UK

A short booklet which offers guidance for a surviving partner when parenting their bereaved children as well as coping with their own grief. It was developed with help from bereaved families and was originally funded by BBC Children in Need. Also useful for GP surgeries, Health visitors etc.

Download a copy here

You Just Don’t Understand: Supporting bereaved teenagers

Helen Mackinnon

The transition from childhood to adulthood can be a challenging process at the best of times. This booklet aims to help you understand what is normal adolescent development, and to recognise the additional problems teenagers may face if someone important dies during these years.

Buy from Amazon

Published: 29th November, 2022

Updated: 8th December, 2022

Author:

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When someone is not expected to live (pre-bereavement)

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As Big as it Gets

Julie Stokes and Diana Crossley

This booklet aims to help families cope with the serious illness of a parent or child. It provides a range of ideas for parents and carers so that they may feel more able to explain to their children what is happening. The booklet also includes some suggestions about what parents might say to children and how to offer support.

Buy from Winston's Wish

When your Mum or Dad has cancer

Ann Couldrick and Graham Jeffrey

A short book for younger children (7+) to teenage children. It has an introduction for parents but then explains cancer in a simple way children can relate to. It also covers many questions children ask, such as will the person die and what exactly happens, but tackles the answers with insight and honesty.

Buy from Child Bereavement UK

Published: 28th November, 2022

Updated: 7th December, 2022

Author:

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When a parent has died

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Rory’s Story

Anna Jacobs

Rory is an adolescent boy who is struggling with the loss of his mother. Confused and bullied at school, he attempts to run away and finally returns to face his feelings. This therapeutic story is a gritty, readable story that teenagers will relate to; it explores the teenage experience of loss and bereavement; it can be used to support young people who have experienced loss; it can help teenagers understand the needs of their peers when loss occurs; it has notes for discussion on the themes of each chapter.

This story can be used in conjunction with the practical workbook 'Supporting Teenagers through Grief & Loss'. This useful tool which will help teachers, therapists and carers to support and understand the needs of adolescents facing loss.

Buy from Amazon

Still Here with Me: Teenagers and Children on Losing a Parent

Suzanne Sjoqvist

This book is a moving and thoughtful anthology of the experiences of thirty children and teenagers who have lost a parent. In their own words, children and young people of a variety of ages talk openly and honestly about losing their mother or father. They describe feelings of pain, loss and anger, the struggle to cope with the embarrassed reactions and silence of others, and the difficulties involved in rebuilding their lives. They also share happy and loving memories of their parents, and talk about the importance of remembering while learning to accept their parent’s deaths.

Buy from Amazon

Published: 27th November, 2022

Updated: 8th December, 2022

Author:

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Special educational needs

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Finding Your Own Way to Grieve

Karla Helbert 

A creative activity workbook for grieving children and teens on the Autistic Spectrum. The clear concise language will help adults communicate with children around the abstract concepts of death and grief.

Buy from Amazon

Let's Talk About Death

Down’s Syndrome Scotland

A booklet about death and funerals for young people and adults who have a learning disability. Includes some simple text on why people die, what happens at funerals and possible grief reactions. Photographs support the text.

Download from Down's Syndrome Scotland

When Dad Died

Hollins and Sireling

This book take an honest and straightforward approach to death and grief in the family. The pictures tell the death of a parent in a simple but moving way. The approach is non-denominational. Suitable for young people and adults with a learning disability.

Buy from Books Beyond Words

When Mum Died

Hollins and Sireling

This book takes an honest and straightforward approach to death and grief in the family. The pictures tell the death of a parent in a simple but moving way. “When Mum Died” shows a burial. The approach is non-denominational. Suitable for young people and adults with a learning disability.

Buy from Books Beyond Words

When Somebody Dies

Hollins and Sireling    

Using pictures, the book tells the story of Mary who is very upset when someone she loves dies. She is encouraged by a friend to go to regular bereavement counselling sessions, which help her to feel less sad. John also loses someone he is close to. He is given comfort and companionship by friends and is shown learning to cope better with life. Suitable for young people and adults with a learning disability.

Buy from Books Beyond Words

Published: 23rd November, 2022

Updated: 8th December, 2022

Author:

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    Babies and young children have no understanding of the concept of death yet, long before they are able to talk, babies are likely to react to upset and changes in their environment brought about by the absence of a significant person.

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    Contact one of the Child Bereavement UK centres or get in touch with one of our departments.

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    When a baby lives only a short time or dies before birth due to miscarriage, stillbirth or a painful decision to end the pregnancy, people may assume that the loss is not important. This is simply not the case.

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    Explaining funerals, burial and cremation to children

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  • UK death & bereavement statistics

    UK death & bereavement statistics

    A parent of children under 18 dies every 22 minutes in the UK; around 23,600 a year. This equates to around 111 children being bereaved of a parent every day.

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Child Bereavement UK Death of a baby Death of a parent Explaining death to children films Information Sheet 2020 Milton Keynes parenting a bereaved child Pregnancy following stillbirth returning to school Same Sex Couple short film short guidance films Stillbirth Young People's Advisory Group YPAG
Short guidance films

Short guidance films

Our short films are delivered by support practitioners and cover a range of topics on grief and bereavement, providing guidance on what can help. Read more

Published: 25th March, 2019

Updated: 1st December, 2021

Author: Robin Ngai

Books and resources

Books and resources

A list of books and resources relating to grief and bereavement and what may help. Read more

Published: 21st October, 2021

Updated: 30th November, 2021

Author: Harriet Hieatt-Smith

Others' experiences

Others' experiences

Some bereaved families find it helpful to read about other peoples’ experiences and how the support they have received has helped them. Read more

Published: 30th November, 2021

Updated: 1st December, 2021

Author: Emma Van Allan

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