Last Updated Date: January 19, 2026
Photo by Ryan Parker
The best YA books about grief and loss include lesser-known contemporary mysteries like The Delinquent Hero—guaranteed for an “ugly cry,” as well as The Sky Is Everywhere, an older novel that explores the gut-wrenching reality of death, especially when young people die.
At a Glance:
Best for Grieving Sisters: The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess
Best for Loss of Mother: The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan
Best for Loss of Parents: Willow by Julia Hoban
Why Trust These Suggestions?
As an award-winning author and longtime blogger with over 10 years of experience analyzing YA fiction, I’ve personally curated this collection from my own bookshelves. While many lists stick to mainstream bestsellers, I’ve selected these specific titles for their unique, raw emotional power.
(1) The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess: Why It’s the Best “Ugly Cry” Mystery
For readers who love “ugly cry” and hospital-based fiction, The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess offers a raw exploration of grief processing and devastating heartbreak following a sibling’s brain death. This contemporary medical YA novel speaks directly to the sorrow of saying goodbye to a sibling.
One-sentence summary of The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess: As her older sister, Kat, dies in the ICU, Molly investigates the mystery surrounding the suspicious and tragic accident―and uncovers an unbearable truth about their bond.
The Taste Test
“I stare at my sister in this bed. She is mine. She is here, and I cannot imagine that she is not. That she will never be here again. How can it be true? I see her before me. Her chest is rising, falling, rising, falling. Her hand is warm in mine.” ― Khristina Chess from The Delinquent Hero
What Set This Apart for Me: Why It’s the Most Quietly Devastating Sisterhood Story in 2026
Unlike mainstream bestsellers about bereavement, The Delinquent Hero is the saddest YA “sibling death” book that isn’t trending on TikTok yet. At the core is Molly—a teen desperate for answers after her older sister lands in the hospital. The investigation peels back layers of secrets, regrets, and the painful bond they’ve always shared.
What makes The Delinquent Hero truly unforgettable is its gut-wrenching puzzle—not just unraveling what happened to Molly’s sister on that fateful day, but understanding Kat herself. This novel doesn’t just tell a story; it forces you to feel every ache, every unanswered question, every regret, every desperate search for why.
The Delinquent Hero is a perfect match for readers looking for quiet, emotionally resonant stories about grief and healing with low hype.
What Other Readers Are Saying about The Delinquent Hero
“I won’t spoil what happens as far as that is concerned, but be prepared to have a tissue handy. It’s a heartbreaking book that had me in tears. It’s a story of two sisters and the bond they share.” - Melody, Goodreads Reader
My key takeaway: 5/5 stars for the depth of sisterly love and the inevitable “ugly cry.”
(2) The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan: A Magical Realism Look at Grief
One-sentence summary of The Astonishing Color of After: A grieving girl goes on a search for her mother, who she believes has turned into a bird.
The Taste Test
“Whose fault was it? That’s the question on everyone’s mind, isn’t it? Nobody will ever say it out loud. It’s a question people would call inappropriate. The kind of thing where everyone tells you, “It’s nobody’s fault.” But is that even true? It’s only human nature to look for a place to lay the blame. Our fingers are more than ready to do the pointing, but it’s like we’re all blindfolded and spinning. What makes a person want to die?” ― Emily X.R. Pan from The Astonishing Color of After
Why the Unique Premise of The Astonishing Color of After Broke My Heart
I discovered The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan after reading an intriguing Goodreads review. The book was shelved under Teen Fantasy, a category where I never shop, so without seeing the reviewer comments I might never have discovered this touching YA magical realism novel about grief, culture, and family secrets.
The premise is that a young girl, Leigh Chen Sanders, is grieving the death of her mother, who committed suicide. Leigh believes that she turned into a bird, and she goes on a journey to visit her grandparents in Taiwan in search of her mother, the bird, and other family secrets.
This book wrecked me in the best possible way. The writing is so beautiful. Whether it’s the love story, the voice, the mystery, or the family culture aspect, there’s plenty of reasons why fans connect with this book. I truly can’t say enough wonderful things about it.
What Other Readers Are Saying about The Astonishing Color of After
“This is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful books I have ever read, and it completely and utterly wrecked me.” - Destiny, Goodreads reviewing
My key takeaway: 5/5 stars for the “tear jerker” factor.
(3) Willow by Julia Hoban: A Raw Survival Story about Loss of Parents
One-sentence summary for Willow by Julia Hoban: A teen girl becomes an orphan after a tragic accident, and self-harm becomes her coping method.
The Taste Test
“It's hard to keep a secret when it's written all over your body.” ― Julia Hoban from Willow
Why I’m Still Thinking About Willow More Than 10 Years Later
In this complex novel about coping with grief and guilt through self-harming, I met the wonderful character of Willow. She is an orphan with terrible secrets. Guilt. Pain. Numbness. And love.
I can’t speak about whether or not Willow suffers from a mental illness, or if she’s simply a teenager who doesn’t know how to deal with the terrible things that happened in her life. Cutting seems like an answer. She feels alone and sad. At any rate, the book felt emotional and honest to me. I loved reading her story and connecting with her pain as she journeyed to wholeness.
What Other Readers Are Saying about Willow
“A confrontation between Willow and her brother had me so overwhelmed I had to put the book down for a few minutes before I could read on - I was just so invested in the story and Willow’s journey it felt as if her pain was mine.“ ― Sammee, Goodreads Reader
My key takeaway: 4/5 stars for the heartbreaking portrayal of the lengths a person must go to cope with loss and trauma.
(4) The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson: A Poetic Masterpiece about Losing a Sister
An award winning YA novel published in 2010, The Sky Is Everywhere uses poetry and gorgeous writing to portray a duality of grief and joy that fans of contemporary YA fiction will devour. Lennie leaves random little poems for her sister, Baily, who died suddenly of a brain bleed.
One-sentence summary for The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson: A beautiful novel about a grieving girl who falls in love with two boys: the cute new kid in school and her dead sister’s boyfriend.
The Taste Test
“What kind of girl wants to kiss every boy at a funeral, wants to maul a guy in a tree after making out with her sister’s boyfriend the previous night? Speaking of which, what kind of girl makes out with her sister’s boyfriend, period?” ― Jandy Nelson from The Sky Is Everywhere
Why I’m Still Thinking About This Goodreads Choice Nominee More Than 25 Years Later
I love, love, loved this book! The writing is so lyrical, and the story is incredibly sad. It begins with protagonist Lennie, who is grieving the sudden death of her sister. Although Bailey is dead, the relationship between these siblings is very much alive on the pages of this novel. Lennie writes beautiful poems, and she spends time in their room and shares so many memories that I feel I know Bailey.
A charismatic new boy shows up at school, and Lennie ends up entering into 2 romances at the same time. This is the love triangle. One romance is with the new boy at school, and the other is with her dead sister’s grieving boyfriend. Sooner or later, she has to decide which one of these guys is the one she’s going to stick with. Oh, boy.
All of the characters are vivid, and the story is captivating. The creative visual aspect of the novel is also a nice touch; Lennie writes her poems on scraps and scatters them everywhere, and these appear at the beginning of chapters.
What Other Readers Are Saying about The Sky Is Everywhere
“This book is full of life and despite dealing with loss, it is uplifting. Beautiful story.” ― Shannon, Goodreads Reader
My key takeaway: 5/5 stars on second reading (updated for 2026) based on poignant writing style.
(5) All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven: The Most Heartbreaking YA Book about Mental Health
The mental illness in All the Bright Places creates a powerful storyline that makes readers sob. There’s a reason why this gut-wrenching contemporary YA was a Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Readers Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2015).
One-sentence summary for All the Bright Places: In their shared grief and sadness, a boy and a girl form an unlikely relationship.
The Taste Test
“You are all the colors in one, at full brightness.” ― Jennifer Niven from All the Bright Places
My Expert Diagnosis: A Profoundly Sad But Wonderful YA Book
After re-reading All the Bright Places a second time in 2026, I enjoyed this profoundly sad story every bit as much as the first time. I loved the writing, the dual character viewpoints, the plot, the language, and the symbolism. I loved everything.
The story is straightforward. Violet Markey wants to escape the grief that lives in her hometown where her sister recently died.
Her friend Theodore Finch has more than a touch of the blues.
Violet and Theodore are an unlikely couple, paired together on a school project to explore the natural wonders of their state. At first, Theodore seems to be the one helping Violet with her sadness, but Violet doesn’t have any understanding about the depth of Theodore’s despair. Along their journey, they make several unexpected discoveries about one another.
Blue is a primary color.
What Other Readers Are Saying about All The Bright Places
“I finished this with tears streaming down my face. This book is not for everyone - it's dark and it's tragic.“ ― BernLuvsBooks, Goodreads Reader
My key takeaway: 4/5 stars for the poignant writing, dual character viewpoints, and resonant storytelling
(6) Drive to June by Khristina Chess: Exploring Grief and Substance Abuse After Parent Loss
Drive to June is a compelling, romantic, and deeply emotional story about processing guilt and grief through alcohol abuse following parent loss. It is a powerful “tear-jerker” in the bereavement fiction niche for young adults.
One-sentence summary of Drive to June: After a drunk driver kills her mother, Adrianna abuses alcohol to drown her sorrow until an unexpected stranger offers a path to healing.
The Taste Test
“You do realize that a car is a mobile make-out location, right?” ― Khristina Chess from Drive to June.
The “Ugly Cry” Factor: My Personal Reaction to the Family Dynamic in Drive to June
In Chess’ underrated contemporary YA book, there is an absent father, an older sister away at college, and a dead mother—so drowning her sorrow seems like a natural response to the overwhelming feelings Adrianna must confront by herself. Nobody is home to notice that she’s slowly draining the wine collection and numbing herself to an awful secret she can’t face.
Then one evening, a pizza delivery boy finds her crying on the roof of her house and offers to teach her how to drive—and somehow through that journey, everything changes.
What Other Readers Are Saying about Drive to June
“Simply wonderful with smiles and tears and true-to-life situations we're all familiar with. Excellent. A must read, and I will be reading more.” ― Ga, Goodreads Reader
My key takeaway: 5/5 stars! Best for readers seeking a realistic story about grief recovery and substance abuse with a message of strong family bonds that reconnect through love and healing.
(7) How to Make Friends with the Dark by Kathleen Glasgow: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Sudden Loss
YA book readers looking for the ultimate guide to surviving an unexpected death will enjoy this thought-provoking story about a teen named Tiger Tolliver who becomes an orphan after her mom dies of a brain aneurysm. This sudden event makes her a ward of the state, faced with an uncertain future.
One sentence summary of How to Make Friends with the Dark: A girl's mother dies suddenly, leaving her adrift in the foster care system.
The Taste Test
“You are carrying so many heavy feelings. There just isn’t enough room for them all.“ ― Kathleen Glasgow from How to Make Friends with the Dark
My Honest Review - Glasgow’s Bestseller Causes Ugly Cry
This YA novel about death and dying is a real tear jerker! Tiger strikes me a sheltered girl with little real life experience; on the day her mom died, she was kissing a boy for the first time. She wasn't prepared for the events that followed as she entered the system. Yet, despite her tragic circumstances, she makes a path for herself. She makes mistakes but doesn't fall off a cliff. She keeps people at a cautious distance, but she does make friends and finds a way to build a new family for herself.
What Tiger begins to learn over the course of the story is that her mom kept some important secrets from her. For example, she has a living dad. And a sister!
What Other Readers Are Saying about How to Make Friends with the Dark
“Utter pain and sadness. This is the only book that has made me cry whilst reading.“ ― Daisy, Goodreads Reader
My key takeaway: 5/5 stars for this lovely story about hope and resilience.
Bonus Round - The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold: A Unique & Supernatural Perspective
One-sentence summary for The Lovely Bones: December 1973, a murdering rapist takes the life of a young girl, but she pursues justice from the afterlife.
The Taste Test
“Murderers are not monsters, they're men. And that's the most frightening thing about them.” ― Alice Sebold from The Lovely Bones
My Expert Verdict: How This Unusual Premise of a Dead Narrator Brings All the Tears
Susie Salmon is dead.
She was raped and murdered in a most gruesome fashion by a most gruesome man, and now she exists in an afterlife, observing her family and her killer.
The story is a bit disorienting, but I think that’s kind of the point. Most of the novel is about Susie’s struggle to come to terms with the fact that she’s dead and move on. The “why?” questions haunt her. Her family and former life haunts her. The desire for justice and vengeance haunts her.
It’s the disquiet that comes when a young person dies tragically, suddenly, whether or not by foul means. There is a profound unfairness. The soul cries out.
Although the scene where Susie is killed is horrific, this one also fits the list of YA books about grief and loss. Everyone in this book is grieving, including Susie herself.
What Other Readers Are Saying about The Lovely Bones
“When I say sad and depressing, I mean it. I cried about ten times reading this.” ― Erin, Goodreads Reader
My key takeaway: 4/5 stars for this ghost story about redemption.
Other YA Books about Grief and Loss
There are so many other popular titles to recommend:
The Glass Kathleen Glasgow - A lovely YA novel about a girl dealing with bereavement who hits rock bottom with alcohol abuse.
The Hint of Light by Kristin Kisska - An understated debut about grieving the death of a father.
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez - A rebellious reaction to the death of an older, perfect sister.
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour - The tragic death of her father sends Mabel to hide out in her freshman dorm room over Christmas break.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - A star-crossed lovers story about teens with terminal illnesses who fall in love.
Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews - A humorous story about a teenage girl dying from leukemia.
If you are looking other YA books about grief and loss, check out the YA Grief Fiction, YA Death & Dying Books, YA Books Dealing with Grief, and Losing Someone - Grief-themed Books in Young Adult Fiction the lists on Goodreads.
You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which lists other reviews of YA contemporary books about tough topics such as depression and anxiety.
About the Author: Khristina Chess
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of more than a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Her novel about eating disorders, Hollow Beauty, was named a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, dystopian, and adventure.
