Books about Grief and Prolonged Grief Disorder
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Books For Adults
Bearing the Unbearable
by Joanne Cacciatore
The Counselor's Take: "A masterpiece for those who feel their grief is too much for society. Dr. Cacciatore provides a compassionate space for traumatic loss, emphasizing that we don't get over grief, we learn to carry it with love."
The Grieving Brain
by Mary-Frances O'Connor
The Counselor's Take: "Essential for understanding Prolonged Grief Disorder. It explains the neuroscience of why the brain struggles to map a world where a loved one is gone, helping clients see their stuckness as a biological process rather than a personal failure."
Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief
by Claire Bidwell Smith
The Counselor's Take: "Many clients don't realize their panic attacks or constant worry are actually manifestations of loss. This book is for anyone who feels on edge following a death."
Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief
by David Kessler
The Counselor's Take: "Kessler, who co-authored the original stages with Kübler-Ross, adds the most vital component for long-term healing: meaning. This is the bridge between surviving a loss and eventually living a life of purpose again."
Modern Loss
by Rebecca Soffer and Gabrielle Birkner
The Counselor's Take: "Grief in the 21st century is different. We have digital legacies and social media reminders. This book offers a candid, sometimes funny, and very modern look at navigating loss in a connected world."
Growing Through Grief
by Alex Mammadyarov (2025/2026 release)
The Counselor's Take: "A fresh, 2026 perspective on integration. It moves away from the idea of closure and instead teaches clients how to weave their loss into their identity so they can grow with it."
It’s OK That You’re Not OK
by Megan Devine
The Counselor's Take: "The anti-self-help grief book. It validates the raw, messy reality of loss and gives clients permission to stop trying to fix a situation that is fundamentally unfixable."
The Year of Magical Thinking
by Joan Didion
The Counselor's Take: "A classic memoir that perfectly captures the magical thinking or disorientation that often accompanies sudden, profound loss. It helps clients feel less alone in their confusing thoughts."
Grief Is the Thing with Feathers
by Max Porter
The Counselor's Take: "A short, poetic fable for those who find clinical books too heavy. It explores how grief can feel like a physical presence in the home - dark and intrusive, but eventually protective."
Option B
by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
The Counselor's Take: "Focuses on resilience. This is for high-achieving clients who need a structured, research-backed framework for rebuilding their lives after the Option A of their life has been taken away."
The Inspirational Lives of Others
Michael J. Fox’s books are a must for people dealing with life-altering diagnoses or those who feel their luck has run out. Inspiration from chronic illness, resilience & radical optimism.
Lucky Man: A Memoir
The Counselor's Take: "In this memoir, Fox discusses the seven years he spent in denial after his Parkinson’s diagnosis. I recommend this for people who are struggling to accept a new reality, whether it’s a health issue or a major life change. It’s a masterclass in how to stop grieving for the life you thought you’d have and start living the one you actually have."
Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist
The Counselor's Take: "This book moves beyond the diagnosis and looks at the pillars of a meaningful life: work, politics, faith, and family. It’s great for the person who feels their identity has been swallowed by their struggles. Fox shows that optimism isn't about ignoring the bad, rather it’s about choosing where to focus your energy."
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future
The Counselor's Take: "This is a shorter, punchy read for those at a crossroads. It’s full of unconventional wisdom about how to navigate a future that looks nothing like the one you planned. It’s a gentle reminder that being prepared for life is less about a plan and more about a mindset."
No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality
The Counselor's Take: "In this more recent work, Fox is incredibly honest about the moments when his optimism actually failed him after a series of additional health setbacks. It’s a vital resource for people who feel toxic positivity is a burden. It explores how to find your way back to gratitude when life feels objectively unfair."
Known for his role as Lt. Dan, Gary Sinise has become a leading voice for the veteran community and those facing profound family loss. His life is a testament to choosing to live a life of service, purpose and making meaning with a loved one's legacy.
Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service
The Counselor's Take: "Gary Sinise (often remembered as Lt. Dan) shares his transition from an aimless teenager to a man driven by a singular mission to serve others. This is an excellent recommendation for those who feel stuck or lack a sense of purpose. It demonstrates how external service can often be the best medicine for internal unrest."
Graceful Warrior (New for November 2026)
The Counselor's Take: "This deeply personal 2026 release follows the Sinise family’s journey after Gary’s son, Mac, was diagnosed with a rare cancer. It is one of the most poignant resources for caregiver burnout and parental grief. It’s a story of a family carrying each other through the unimaginable, focusing on faith and the endurance of the human spirit."
Children’s Books About Grief & Loss
A mix of stories for toddlers through middle-grade to help parents facilitate difficult conversations.
The Invisible String
by Patrice Karst
The Counselor's Take: "The #1 book for separation anxiety and loss. It uses the metaphor of an invisible string of love to reassure children that we are always connected to those we love, even if we can't see them."
The Goodbye Book
by Todd Parr
The Counselor's Take: "Perfect for toddlers. It uses simple language and bright colors to validate that it's okay to feel sad, mad, or just confused when someone is gone."
Ida, Always
by Caron Levis
The Counselor's Take: "A beautiful story about two polar bears. It is particularly helpful for children facing a terminal illness in the family, as it focuses on the before and after of loss."
The Memory Tree
by Britta Teckentrup
The Counselor's Take: "Focuses on the importance of remembering. It shows how sharing stories about someone who died helps their memory grow and provide comfort to others."
Rabbityness
by Jo Empson
The Counselor's Take: "A wonderful book about the gifts people leave behind. It encourages children to find joy in the hobbies or traits they shared with the person they lost."
Badger’s Parting Gifts
by Susan Varley
The Counselor's Take: "A gentle classic for school-aged children. It helps kids understand that while a body may grow old and stop working, the things that person taught us live on."
Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing
by Pat Schwiebert
The Counselor's Take: "A bit longer, making it great for older children. It acknowledges that everyone’s 'recipe' for grief is different and that healing takes time and unique ingredients."
The Heart and the Bottle
by Oliver Jeffers
The Counselor's Take: "Explores emotional numbing. It’s a great visual for children who might be shutting down after a loss, helping them see the value in staying open to feelings."
Lifetimes
by Bryan Mellonie
The Counselor's Take: "A very direct, non-religious explanation of the biological cycle of life. Perfect for parents who want a just the facts approach to explaining death."
Cry, Heart, But Never Break
by Glenn Ringtved
The Counselor's Take: "A profound, slightly more mature story that personifies Death as a kind, inevitable visitor. It helps children understand that sadness and life are intertwined."
I Miss You: A First Look at Death
by Pat Thomas
The Counselor's Take: "A bibliotherapy staple. It includes prompts for parents to ask their children, making it a functional tool for starting a dialogue about fear and curiosity."
Something Very Sad Happened
by Bonnie Zucker
The Counselor's Take: "Specifically designed for the 2-to-3-year-old age group. It uses extremely simple language to explain death without using confusing metaphors."
The Rabbit Listened
by Cori Doerrfeld
The Counselor's Take: "While not strictly about death, it is the best book for teaching children (and adults) how to sit with someone in their pain without trying to fix it."
The Fall of Freddie the Leaf
by Leo Buscaglia
The Counselor's Take: "An allegory about the seasons. It helps children see death as a natural transition rather than a scary ending."
Michael Rosen’s Sad Book
by Michael Rosen
The Counselor's Take: "A deeply honest look at chronic sadness. It’s excellent for children whose parents are grieving, as it validates that adults get sad too."