Last Updated Date: January 24, 2026
If you’re searching for the best YA books like Bridge to Terabithia to read in 2026, the top “ugly cry” options include The Delinquent Hero (survivor’s guilt) and All the Bright Places (mental health). These recommendations are specifically chosen for older readers seeking the same emotional depth as the classic novel but with mature, high-school teens.
At a Glance:
Best for Survivor’s Guilt: The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess
Best for Terminal Illness: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Best for Mental Health Awareness: All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
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 Bridge to Terabithia lists focus on middle-grade readers, I’ve hand-picked these YA titles specifically for high school and college-aged readers who need stories that match their current emotional maturity.
(1) The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess - A Raw "Ugly Cry" about Survivor's Guilt
For readers seeking the same sudden loss and emotional weight found in Bridge to Terabithia, The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess offers a modern “ugly cry” experience. It mirrors the unexpected tragedy of the classic, trading the enchanted forest for a gritty, real-world investigation into a suspicious accident.
Why It Feels Like Bridge to Terabithia:
The Shock Factor: A sudden, life-altering tragedy (fatal accident with young person)
Childhood Anchors: Nature-based memories (Luna moths, meadows) that heighten the grief.
Survivor’s Mission: A protagonist forced to find meaning in the aftermath.
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.
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 “Tear Jerker” Apart for Me: The Most Poignant Character Exploration I’ve Read This Year
Readers looking for books like Bridge to Terabithia and the survivor’s guilt trope will love this “tear jerker” about two sisters. As Kat is dying and Molly tries to understand why, poignant childhood memories surface, like the time they saw the deer in the meadow or their discovery of the Luna moth.
At the core of this contemporary YA is Molly, a teen desperate for answers after her older sister, Kat, lands in the hospital. Something is suspicious. The investigation unfolds in real time, peeling 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.
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
Key takeaway: 5/5 stars based on the ugly cry factor and the satisfying “closure” that didn’t exist in Bridge to Terabithia. In fact, I consider The Delinquent Hero to be a standout in my collection; you can find all my YA novels on Amazon, where they are available in Kindle Unlimited, paperback, and audio.
(2) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Still a Gold Standard for Emotional YA Loss in 2026
One-sentence summary of The Fault in Our Stars: A boy and a girl with terminal illnesses fall in love.
The Taste Test
“But it is the nature of stars to cross, and never was Shakespeare more wrong than when he has Cassius note, ‘The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves.” ― John Green from The Fault in Our Stars
The Fault in Our Stars is the ultimate YA book about star-crossed lovers. Augustus Waters and Hazel Grace are two teens with cancer, and they fall in love during a sweet time of remission. They talk about literature and philosophy, and they go on a wonderful journey to meet the author of Hazel’s favorite novel. This person is not at all what she expected—a huge disappointment, as a matter of fact—but then, life happens that way.
When the inevitable plot turn comes and twists the knife in your heart, it doesn’t matter that you’re expecting it. Augustus and Hazel are supposed to be together, so every bittersweet moment of their parting is a gasp. Every breath counts. Every syllable.
If you’re looking for the sweetest and most heart-wrenching story and loved Bridge to Terabithia, pick up this classic. If you read it a long time ago, it’s just as good the second time around. Trust me.
My Expert Take: Sweet, Sad, Doomed Love (Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Reader’s Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2012)
Unlike the surprise tragedy in Bridge to Terebithia, readers know the characters in The Fault in Our Stars are doomed. Augustus Waters and Hazel Grace are two teens with cancer, and they fall in love during a sweet time of remission. They talk about literature and philosophy, and they go on a wonderful journey to meet the author of Hazel’s favorite novel. This person is not at all what she expected—a huge disappointment, as a matter of fact—but then, life happens that way.
When the inevitable plot turn comes and twists the knife in your heart, it doesn’t matter that you’re expecting it. Augustus and Hazel are supposed to be together, so every bittersweet moment of their parting is a gasp. Every breath counts. Every syllable.
If you’re looking for the sweetest and most heart-wrenching star-crossed love story, pick up this classic. And if you read it a long time ago, it’s just as good the second time around. Trust me.
What Other Readers Are Saying about The Fault in Our Stars
“I knew that I would cry so I really didn't bother swearing not to cry. What I didn't expect is bawling my eyes out.” ― April, Goodreads Reader
My key takeaway: 5/5 stars! Perfect for fans of Bridge to Terebithia who enjoy “tear jerkers.”
(3) All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven - A Gut-Wrenching Story about Teen Mental Illness and Profound Loss
The teen mental illness in All the Bright Places creates a powerful story 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.
(4) How to Make Friends with the Dark by Kathleen Glasgow - A YA Contemporary about Instand Loss and Shattered Reality
Readers looking for the ultimate guide to surviving an unexpected death like that in Bridge to Teribithia 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 an 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.
(5) The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson - A YA Contemporary about Grief, Healing, and Sisterhood
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 Bridge to Terabithia 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.
(6) We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - The Ultimate "Shock Factor" YA Book like A Bridge to Terabithia
One-sentence summary for We Were Liars by E. Lockhart: A hypnotic story about lifelong friends and a family secret that threatens all of them.
The Taste Test
“Life feels beautiful that day. The four of us Liars, we have always been. We always will be. No matter what happens as we go to college, grow old, build lives for ourselves; no matter if Gat and I are together or not. No matter where we go, we will always be able to line up on the roof of Cuddledown and gaze at the sea. This island is ours. Here, in some way, we are young forever.” ― E. Lockhart from We Were Liars
Why I’m Still Thinking about the Shocking Ending of Lockhart’s Bestseller
What an unexpected and beautiful story about friendship, coming of age, and sorrow! Readers who loved the ending of Bridge to Terabithia will enjoy this YA novel, which is often categorized as a thriller but is much more than that.
I wasn’t sure I’d like this book, but I fell in love with it. By the end it made me cry. This YA novel is about a group of privileged young friends and their lies, family secrets, grief, and love. It’s a thriller. The non-linear plot will leave you reader breathless until the very end.
What Other Readers Are Saying
“This book was a very pleasant surprise - I could not put it down!” ― Matthew, Goodreads Reader
My key takeaway: 5/5 stars!
Other YA Books Similar to Bridge to Terabithia
There are so many other popular titles to recommend to young adult fans of Bridge to Terabithia:
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.
Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews - A humorous story about a teenage girl dying from leukemia.
If you are looking other books similar to Bridge to Terabithia check out the Readers Who Enjoyed Bridge to Terabithia lists on Goodreads. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of reviews of YA books by type of tough topic.
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.
