Sometimes, you just need a good cry. And, similar to movies, books have a way of reaching deep into your soul and stirring up a range of emotions, including sadness. That's because the written word can cut deeply, but it also has a way of healing you and making you see the world differently. In other words, sorrow and grief can sometimes be beautiful and leave a lasting impact. So, if you're on the hunt for sad books that will make you cry, you've come to the right place. Parade loves an emotional read, so we reached out to librarians who know their way around a bookshelf to get their picks for the 56 best sad books out there.Whether you're craving a historical piece that sheds light on a trying time in history, or a devastating story about love and loss, this list includes a range of genres that have one thing in common: they will all give you the feels.Not sure where to start? Peruse the librarians' selections below to see what adventure you want to embark on. But first, a word of advice: be prepared to shed a few tears. And grab a tissue box (or two).Related: The 44 Best Greek Mythology Books of All Time, According to Librarians
When Is a Good Time To Read a Sad Book?
This one depends on personal preference, but generally, sad books are intended to make you feel emotional. With that in mind, if you're in a negative state of mind, it might not be the best time to read a sad book. Conversely, if you're feeling euphoric, a sad book might kill your vibe. Generally, the best time to read a sad book is when you're fully aware of the emotional impact that the book might have on you and are prepared to process the emotions that come along with reading the book.Related: 11 Best Audiobooks on Spotify, According to Librarians
56 Best Sad Books To Read for a Good Cry, According to Librarians
1. ‘The Color Purple' by Alice Walker
Amazon
Hunt calls this classic book "devastating and beautiful." "This novel turns profound suffering into a story of resilience, love and self-discovery. It’s sad, yes, but also deeply affirming and empowering," she shares.The Color Purple explores the lives of African American women in early 20th-century rural Georgia."Separated as girls, sisters Celie and Nettie sustain their loyalty to and hope in each other across time, distance and silence. Through a series of letters spanning nearly thirty years, first from Celie to God, then from the sisters to each other, the novel draws readers into a rich and memorable portrayal of Black women—their pain and struggle, companionship and growth, resilience and bravery," the book description reads.
2. ‘The Leaving Room' by Amber McBride
Amazon
Tara Gold, a high school librarian who is known by the TikTok handle @literallytara, calls this young adult novel "haunting and beautifully told." The book centers around a Keeper named Gospel, who "hosts a Leaving Room for children passing between life and death." When Gospel meets a Keeper named Melodee, their "souls become entangled," per the book description, and they form a romantic connection."The small details McBride artfully places in her poetry absolutely devastated me," Gold shares. "I think I cried more in the first half of this book than in any book that I’ve read for the past decade."
3. ‘Saga' by Brian K. Vaughan (author) and Fiona Staples (artist)
Amazon
Boston Public Library Community History Supervisor Dory Klein calls this comic series "heavy hitting" and "gorgeously illustrated.""It's a tragic space opera about star-crossed lovers trying to survive and build a better world for their kiddo, and it is rough. This series is silly, violent, tender, hopeful and utterly, utterly devastating," she explains. "It's also still in production, so I can't tell you how it ends (not that I would). The creators have a knack for repeatedly lulling readers into a sense of sweetness and safety, only to abruptly shatter the moment with jarring and violent tragedy. It's destabilizing and very affecting."
4. ‘Crying in H Mart: A Memoir' by Michelle Zauner
Amazon
"Crying in H Mart is a memoir of the author’s grief journey after the loss of her mother," Gold says. "I read this one just weeks after a similar devastating loss, and I found Zauner’s descriptions of the complexities of grief hit very close to home. It was a very cathartic read for me during a very hard time."
5. 'The Book of Love' by Kelly Link
Amazon
Wilmington Memorial Library Teen Librarian Sara Rottgeris a fan of this 2024 Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner. The novel follows Laura, Daniel and Mo, who have been presumed dead for almost a year after disappearing from their hometown. They are, indeed, dead, but their high school musicteacher suddenly offers them a way to regain their lives and return to their families if they complete a series of magical tasks. But everything comes with a price."I am a huge sucker for magical realism books where the world-building feels fast and loose at first but comes together into something devastating by the end. The love and cruelty between people close to each other [are] beautifully and tragically depicted," she says.
6. ‘There There' by Tommy Orange
Amazon
Adam Vorobok, a librarian at the Cincinnati Public Library, recommends this book for "the fantastic cast of diverse characters" and says you'll root for them "as the story hurls them towards a gut-wrenching tragedy."The book introduces readers to 12 characters from Native communities who are traveling to the Big Oakland Powwow and "connected to one another in ways they may not yet realize," per the book description.
7. ‘The Poppy War' by R. F. Kuang
Amazon
Klein recommends reading this first book in a "devastating epic fantasy trilogy.""At its core, it's about the human cost of empire and dominion. Over the course of the trilogy, you get to know the traumatized and deeply flawed Rin as she grows into her power at tremendous cost," she explains. "This is a vivid, imaginative, violent and transportive series that I found unforgettable. And when I tell you I only recommend this series with every single content warning, I am really not kidding. I read these books six years ago, and my heart still hurts. This is a sincere compliment."
8. ‘The Women' by Kristin Hannah
Amazon
Melissa Davis, a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library, says this is a sad book but a "good story with a powerful ending about the women who served in Vietnam and the effects of PTSD." "It also shows how veterans were viewed once they were back in the States," she shares.Hunt is also a fan. "This novel captures the emotional cost of war on women who are often erased from history. It’s tragic, powerful and a necessary act of remembrance," she states.
9. ‘They Both Die at the End' by Adam Silvera
Amazon
Rachael Welsh, a librarian who goes by @rachaelreads on Instagram, enjoyed reading this novel from Adam Silvera."What if you got a phone call telling you that you were going to die that day? What would you do?" she states. "In this book, Mateo and Rufus both get that call, and the book follows their day as they go from strangers to friends and navigate their last day of life."
10. 'Angela’s Ashes' by Frank McCourt
Amazon
Author Frank McCourt's powerful memoir about his life has captivated readers for several decades."McCourt recounts extreme poverty and loss with honesty and unexpected humor," Hunt says of this well-known book. "The sadness is real, but so is the resilience and sharp wit that make it unforgettable."Throughout the book, McCourt details his childhood in the slums of Limerick, Ireland."Frank endures poverty, near-starvation and the casual cruelty of relatives and neighbors—yet lives to tell his tale with eloquence, exuberance and remarkable forgiveness," the book description reads.
11. 'Hamnet' by Maggie O'Farrell
Amazon
"This beautifully written and moving novel speculates on the inspiration for William Shakespeare's play Hamlet," Nathalie Harty, Director of the Wilmington Memorial Library, says.In the novel, O'Farrell "delivers a deeply moving novel about the death of Shakespeare’s eleven-year-old son, Hamnet, and the years leading up to the production of his great play," the book description reads.Related: Kate Middleton Was in a ‘Flood of Tears’ Watching This 2026 Oscar Nominee, Prince William Reveals
12. ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower' by Stephen Chbosky
Amazon
Vorobok says this book "captures the loneliness and self-discovery of growing up with humor and a healthy dose of tears."Worcester Public Library Manager of Adult Services Tara Jankowski is also fond of the book."I experienced feelings of nostalgia that were both wistful and melancholic," she shares. "Things that I wished had happened, and things that I wished didn't happen."In the novel, "wallflower" Charlie "charts a course through the strange world between adolescence and adulthood," per the book description.
13. ‘Lila' by Marilynne Robinson
Amazon
Wilmington Memorial Library Library Associate Rebecca Lowe calls this a "gorgeously written novel about the power of love after lives marked by hardship and tragedy."The book shares the story of a "girlhood lived on the fringes of society in fear, awe and wonder," per its description. Readers get to know Lila, who is homeless and alone when she visits a church in a small Iowa town. After marrying a minister named John, Lila "begins a new existence while trying to make sense of the life that preceded her newfound security.""The well-developed characters show us strength through their vulnerability," Lowe says.
14. ‘Never Let Me Go' by Kazuo Ishiguro
Amazon
American Library Association President Sam Helmick calls this a "quiet, haunting novel" and says it "unfolds with such restraint you almost don’t realize your heart is breaking until it’s too late." "Its power lies in what’s unsaid within the tenderness, the longing and the inevitability woven through ordinary moments. It’s devastating in the most human way," they share.The book follows Kathy, Ruth and Tommy, who previously attended a boarding school with "mercurial cliques and mysterious rules," per the description."Now, years later, Kathy is a young woman. Ruth and Tommy have reentered her life. And for the first time, she is beginning to look back at their shared past and understand just what it is that makes them special—and how that gift will shape the rest of their time together," the description reads.
15. ‘A Little Life' by Hanya Yanagihara
Amazon
"Unrelenting in its sorrow, this novel is also a profound exploration of friendship, trauma and love. It’s emotionally brutal, but masterfully written and deeply human," Hunt tells Parade.The book follows four college classmates who move to New York "in search of fame and fortune," per the book description. Over time, the men are "held together by their devotion to the brilliant, enigmatic Jude, a man scarred by an unspeakable childhood trauma."Helmick also suggests adding this one to your reading list."It’s undeniably hard to read at times, but it’s also a profound meditation on chosen family and the complicated ways we try to care for one another," they say.
16. ‘Saving Noah‘ by Lucinda Berry
Amazon
"Saving Noah might be in the thriller section, but the story itself is more about a mother facing her worst nightmare," Gold shares. "It is about a son committing an unspeakable act and the family left in the wake of that. Emotions are high and decisions are tough here, and the ending of this book absolutely wrecked me."Readers get to know Noah, an all-star student and athlete who confesses a truly terrible crime. When he's sentenced to 18 months in a juvenile sexual rehabilitation center, his mother, Adrianne, vows to stay in his life, but her husband won't allow Noah back in their home.Worcester Public Library Community Relations & Communications Manager Linnea Sheldon calls the novel an "unsettling and emotionally devastating tale that confronts the strength of maternal love.""It explores grief, guilt and impossible choices, leaving you with a lingering sadness and a heavy sense of heartbreak that will linger long after you turn the last page," she says.
17. 'Where the Red Fern Grows' by Wilson Rawls
Amazon
Welsh lists this story about "a boy and his two dogs in the Ozarks" among her personal list of go-to sad books. "As a school librarian, I can report that this book is continuing to traumatize the next generation," she says.The novel follows Billy, who has always wanted to own two dogs. When he saves up enough money for Old Dan and Little Ann, his two dogs, they become "the finest hunting team in the valley," per the book description."But tragedy awaits these determined hunters—now friends—and Billy learns that hope can grow out of despair, and that the seeds of the future can come from the scars of the past," the description reads.
18. ‘The Year of Magical Thinking' by Joan Didion
Amazon
"This stark memoir about grief captures the strange, disorienting logic of mourning. Didion’s clarity makes readers feel seen in their own losses, even as it quietly breaks their hearts," Helmick says.In the memoir, Didion recalls how she and her husband witnessed their only daughter fall ill with septic shock a few days before Christmas in 2003. After their daughter was put into an induced coma, Didion's husband died of a heart attack a few days later. The powerful memoir shares Didion's reflections on grief, death, illness, marriage and other topics.
19. ‘My Brother’s Husband' Volumes 1 & 2 by Gengoroh Tagame
Amazon
Worcester Public Library Adult Services Librarian Amy Klein says this two-volume collection of manga is worth a read."A single Japanese father of a young girl comes to terms with the death of his estranged gay twin brother, when the brother’s white Canadian widower comes to visit. It's a beautiful book that looks at the gay community in Japan and finding family after loss," she says.
20. ‘A Monster Calls' by Patrick Ness
Amazon
Gold describes this book as a "spooky bedtime story" and says it shifts as readers realize "it is really a reflection of the main character’s grief as he processes his mother’s terminal illness." "I sobbed through the last quarter of this book," she says. Related: 21 Books Like ‘Fourth Wing,’ According to Librarians
21. ‘The Travelling Cat Chronicles‘ by Hiro Arikawa
Amazon
"This is a sentimental tale of a young man named Satoru and his cat Nana, who travel across Japan to visit Satoru’s friends, mostly narrated by Nana," Klein says. "The story shows the unbreakable bond between man and cat as well as bonds between friends, even when Satoru seeks to find a new home for Nana."
22. ‘My Sister’s Keeper' by Jodi Picoult
Amazon
Hunt says this book is "emotionally wrenching and ethically complex." "This novel forces readers to sit with impossible choices. The sadness lingers because there are no easy answers," she states.Readers get to know Anna, a 13-year-old whose older sister, Kate, has had leukemia since childhood. In an effort to save their ill daughter, the girls' parents put Anna through "countless surgeries, transfusions and shots" to help Kate. In fact, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for her sister."Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister—and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves," the book description reads.
23. ‘All My Rage' by Sabaa Tahir
Amazon
Gold calls this one of her "favorite books of all time," even if it made her cry."Salahudin and Noor both experience so many devastating setbacks that it was hard to read about how often things just did not work out for them," she says. "Though it is ultimately optimistic, I did find myself closing my book to stare at the wall in despair for a bit in the middle because the emotional impact just hit me that hard."The book tells the tale of "young love, old regrets and forgiveness," per the description.
24. ‘The Lovely Bones‘ by Alice Sebold
Amazon
"Told from beyond the grave, this story reframes grief as something both haunting and tender. It’s heartbreaking, yet strangely comforting in how it honors love and memory," Hunt says.Welsh is also a fan of the novel, which was adapted into a movie."Susie Salmon is narrating the book as she watches her family deal with the aftermath of her murder. She struggles to accept her death, and so does her family as they try to find out what happened to her," she explains.
25. ‘The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini
Amazon
Gold says this book is an "emotional rollercoaster.""It's set across many years in Afghanistan as the main character, Amir, comes of age. There are several scenes in this book that absolutely ripped my heart out. The content is dark at times, so check trigger warnings," she shares.Per the book description, The Kite Runner tells the story of "the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, caught in the tragic sweep of history." "A powerful story of friendship, it is also about the power of reading, the price of betrayal and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies," the description reads.
26. ‘The Book Thief ' by Markus Zusak
Amazon
"Set against the horrors of Nazi Germany, this book balances immense grief with humanity, humor and the power of words," Hunt says. "It hurts because it’s so tender and full of hope."Gold has read the novel three times but still finds herself crying each time."The fact that it’s narrated by Death himself makes this story about the brutality of World War II that much more impactful, especially because the impact here is on children who are first learning how cruel (and unfair) the world can be," she shares.Helmick also recommends the book and says the story "balances beauty and brutality with remarkable grace.""It’s heartbreaking, but it’s also a celebration of language, resistance and the small, luminous acts that sustain us in impossible times," they state.
27. ‘Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck
Amazon
"This novella is utterly devastating in how it distills friendship and shattered dreams into a story that lingers long after the final page," Helmick says. "Its simplicity makes the heartbreak all the more powerful."The iconic story follows California laborers George and Lennie, who dream of purchasing an acre of land and a shack of their own."When they land jobs on a ranch in the Salinas Valley, the fulfillment of their dream seems to be within their grasp. But even George cannot guard Lennie from the provocations of a flirtatious woman, nor predict the consequences of Lennie's unswerving obedience to the things George taught him," the book description reads.
28. ‘Before the Coffee Gets Cold' by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Amazon
"This quiet work of speculative fiction set in a time-traveling café takes a look at the mistakes we make and the regrets we have in life that we wish we could undo. The book feels like a warm hug overall, but with several moments along the way that made me cry," Gold says.In the book, a café in Tokyo offers visitors the opportunity to travel back in time. Readers meet four characters who have different motivations for turning back time."But time travel isn’t so simple, and there are rules that must be followed. Most important, the trip can last only as long as it takes for the coffee to get cold," the book description reads.
29. ‘Bridge to Terabithia' by Katherine Paterson
Amazon
"Often read in childhood, this novel reveals new depths when revisited as an adult. It honors imagination and friendship while confronting loss with honesty and grace," Helmick shares. "Few books have captured the ache of growing up so poignantly."When Leslie Burke joins a new school, she meets Jess Aarons. They become friends and spend lots of time in the woods, inventing an imaginary land named Terabithia."One morning, Leslie goes to Terabithia without Jess, and a tragedy occurs. It will take the love of his family and the strength that Leslie has given him for Jess to be able to deal with his grief," the book description reads.
30. ‘Wild' by Cheryl Strayed
Amazon
"Grief fuels this journey, but healing drives it forward. It’s heartbreaking because it’s raw, and great because it shows how brokenness can still lead to growth," Hunt says.In this memoir, which was adapted into a movie, the author details the journey she went on at 26 years old, four years after the death of her mother and the dissolution of her marriage."With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State—and she would do it alone," the book description reads.
31. ‘The Awakening' by Kate Chopin
Amazon
"I have read this book at various times throughout my life and cried each time for different reasons. It’s a story about futility, feminism and freedom that feels like a punch in the gut every time I turn the final page," Gold says.In the book, the author introduces readers to Edna Pontellier, a young mother and wife who becomes romantically involved with a young man at a seaside resort. Her infidelity "allows her for the first time to imagine a freer life," per the book description. "Upon her return to New Orleans, Edna leaves her husband’s home for her own cottage, pursues her artistic ambitions, and begins an affair, only to discover that the constraints of social custom are more powerful than she had thought," the description reads.
32. ‘Flowers for Algernon' by Daniel Keyes
Amazon
"Charlie was born with a low IQ and undergoes an experimental treatment that has only ever been performed on a mouse named Algernon, and it is an amazing success," Welsh explains. "But when Algernon starts deteriorating, Charlie worries about what that means for him. If someone tells you that they've read this book and they didn't cry, do not trust them."Helmick is also a fan of the "speculative sci-fi novel.""It's presented through progress reports that evolve as the protagonist’s intelligence rises and then tragically declines. Its intimate exploration of dignity, belonging and what it means to be seen as fully human makes an emotional impact that builds steadily and lands with extraordinary force," they say.
33. ‘Code Name Verity' by Elizabeth Wein
Amazon
Klein says this historical young adult novel is "heart-wrenching." "Set during World War II, it features the stories of two young women who serve in the war, one of whom is a spy and the other is a pilot," she says. "Heroism, loyalty and the love of friends will make up for all the tears that you may shed while reading this story."
34. ‘Kindling‘ by Traci Chee
Amazon
Trix Gebele, a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library, recommends this book, but suggests reading the trigger warnings first. "It's a YA dark fantasy with tragic characters who are carefully crafted to reflect the horrors and consequences of war. While being incredibly sad, the journey for these teens to find a community in spite of their trauma is very heartfelt," they say.
35. ‘The Road' by Cormac McCarthy
Amazon
"This book is cold and unrelenting. A father and son drift through a burned-up America where hope is choked out, but love is the tether to find the courage to keep walking," Vorobok says.The Road envisions a future where "no hope remains," per the book description, but finds the father and son "sustained by love.""Awesome in the totality of its vision, it is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation," the book description reads.
36. ‘Ravensbrück: Life and Death in Hitler's Concentration Camp for Women‘ by Sarah Helm
Amazon
"Before reading this book, I didn't know about Ravensbrück, which was a concentration camp that was solely for women," Welsh says. "This book is both fascinating and horrifying as you learn about the atrocities the Nazis committed against the women, including medical experimentation. It's an important but heartbreaking read."Related: The 19 Best Books on Kindle Unlimited Right Now, According to Librarians
37. ‘A Visitation of Spirits' by Randall Kenan
Amazon
Vorobok appreciates this book's "authentic voice and haunting imagery." "It's certainly not an easy read with its themes of suicide and sexuality conflicting with spirituality; however, the novel is a masterclass in storytelling that will leave you breathless," he says.The novel follows Horace Cross, a 16-year-old boy who "wrestles with the guilt of discovering who he is, a young man attracted to other men," per the book description."Raised on stories of prophets, revelations and dreams, his internal struggles take shape in his mind as demons and angels battling for his soul, culminating in one night of horrible and tragic transformation," the description reads.
38. ‘Sing, Unburied, Sing' by Jesmyn Ward
Amazon
Vorobok says this novel will pull at your heartstrings."It's a generational Southern tale about legacies, the effects of violence on families and love. There is a reason why this book won or was nominated for so many awards," he states.The book follows three generations of a family and an "epic tale of hope and struggle," per the book description. Readers get to know Jojo, a 13-year-old with a Black grandfather, Pop, and an absent white father, Michael.Jojo's Black mother, Leonie, isn't around much and struggles with drug abuse. When Jojo's father is released from prison, Leonie drives to the prison with her children. In the prison, the ghost of a 13-year-old dead inmate "has something to teach Jojo about fathers and sons, about legacies, about violence, about love," per the description.
39. ‘49 Days' by Agnes Lee
Amazon
"In the Buddhist tradition, a person must travel for 49 days after death until they can move on and cross over. This graphic novel follows Kit as she travels for 49 days, but also the family left behind grieving her loss," Gold shares. "It is slow, gentle and moving, but also beautiful and thought-provoking."
40. ‘You've Reached Sam‘ by Dustin Thao
Amazon
"Julie and Sam plan to spend the rest of their lives together but then Sam dies. In her grief, she calls his cell phone, and he answers. My school's student book club read this and I had to fan my eyes to keep the tears at bay," Welsh says.Readers meet 17-year-old Julie, who plans to move out of her small town with her boyfriend Sam and attend college. Then, tragedy strikes and Sam dies. When Julie reads a message Sam left for her in her yearbook, she calls Sam's cell phone to listen to his voice mail recording."And Sam picks up the phone. The connection is temporary. But hearing Sam's voice makes Julie fall for him all over again and with each call, it becomes harder to let him go," the book description reads.
41. ‘The Nickel Boys' by Colson Whitehead
Amazon
"Systemic racism and abuse are never anyone’s idea of a happy read, but this meaningful but gut-wrenching book about a pair of Black boys’ experiences in a corrupt Florida reformatory will stick with you long after you read the last page," Klein says.The book is based on the real story of a reform school that "warped the lives of thousands of children," per the book description.
42. ‘When Breath Becomes Air' by Paul Kalanithi
Amazon
"Written by a neurosurgeon facing terminal cancer, this memoir wrestles with mortality and meaning with remarkable grace," Helmick says. "It’s quietly and profoundly moving. This read feels like a meditation on what makes a life worthwhile."The author was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at the age of 36. The book details Kalanithi's journey "confronting his own mortality," per the book description.
43. ‘Dear Martin' by Nic Stone
Amazon
"Justyce McAllister is a good kid who is Black, and his Blackness is all the police officer sees when he puts Justyce in handcuffs when he sees Justyce trying to help a drunk girl who's leaving a party," Welsh explains. "Justyce begins writing journal entries to Martin Luther King Jr. as he navigates the world that is determined to judge him by the color of his skin and not the content of his character."One day, Justyce is driving with his best friend Manny. With their windows rolled down and music turned up loud, they encounter an angry off-duty police officer."Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack," the book description reads.
44. ‘The Beekeeper of Aleppo' by Christy Lefteri
Amazon
Stephanie Cooper, a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library, appreciates the way this book "presents the horrors of war-torn Syria, the nightmare of trying to get out, the quest to get somewhere safe and the residual effects of living through such catastrophic trauma.""Anyone with empathy is sure to feel ripped apart while reading this one," she says.Readers meet Nuri, a beekeeper, and his wife Afra, an artist. When war hits Syria, the couple has to leave behind everything they love, but the journey is challenging as Afra lost her sight."As Nuri and Afra travel through a broken world, they must confront not only the pain of their own unspeakable loss but dangers that would overwhelm even the bravest souls. Above all, they must make the difficult journey back to each other, a path once so familiar yet rendered foreign by the heartache of displacement," the book description reads.
45. ‘Paco's Story' by Larry Heinemann
Amazon
"Paco is the only survivor of an attack on his base during the Vietnam War. The book follows his return to the United States as he works to recover his body and mind from the horrors of war and is haunted by the ghosts of his comrades. Heinemann himself was drafted into the Vietnam War and began writing when he returned from the war," Welsh says.
46. ‘The Song of Achilles' by Madeline Miller
Amazon
"This is the story of Homer's The Iliad through the eyes of Patroclus. As a self-respecting elder millennial, I watched the 2004 movie Troy many times, so while I knew the inevitable ending, what I couldn't predict was the depth of relationships and emotions in this book," Welsh shares. "It's so good!"
47. ‘Shuggie Bain' by Douglas Stuart
Amazon
"I couldn't put down this emotional story about an alcoholic working-class Scottish mother trying her best to keep her family afloat during the economic troubles of the 1980's. Best bring a box of tissues with you for this one," Vorobok says.Readers get to know Hugh "Shuggie" Bain, a "sweet and lonely boy" who grows up in "run-down public housing" in Scotland. His Mother, Agnes, struggles with her drinking and spends money frivolously."Shuggie is meanwhile struggling to somehow become the normal boy he desperately longs to be, but everyone has realized that he is 'no right,' a boy with a secret that all but him can see. Agnes is supportive of her son, but her addiction has the power to eclipse everyone close to her―even her beloved Shuggie," the book description reads.
48. ‘Monday’s Not Coming' by Tiffany D. Jackson
Amazon
"This tale of friendship, adolescence and loneliness is heart-wrenching, but the truth is even harder to fathom. Claudia’s love for her friend, and her heartbreaking exploration of her grief and feelings of abandonment, capture the sadness of losing someone," Sheldon says.When Claudia's friend Monday goes missing, Claudia is distraught, but Monday's family doesn't seem desperate to find answers."As Claudia digs deeper into her friend’s disappearance, she discovers that no one seems to remember the last time they saw Monday. How can a teenage girl just vanish without anyone noticing that she’s gone?" the book description reads.
49. ‘The Children on the Hill' by Jennifer McMahon
Amazon
"This is the kind of story that slowly breaks your heart without you even realizing it. The sadness of lost childhoods and buried secrets lingers long after you close the book," Sheldon says.In 1978, psychiatrist Dr. Helen Hildreth worked with mentally ill patients. One day, she brings home a child named Iris to stay with her family. Helen's granddaughter Violet is excited to have a new friend, but Iris is "silent, hollow-eyed, skittish and feral," per the book description. Still, Violet and her brother Eric try their best to break her out of her shell and invite her to their Monster Club, where they "dream up ways to defeat all manner of monsters."Flash forward to 2019, and the story follows podcaster Lizzy Shelley as she travels to Vermont to explore the case of a young girl who was abducted. Lizzy is the host of a podcast called "Monsters Among Us," and she heard that a monster was sighted in town."She’s determined to hunt it down, because Lizzy knows better than anyone that monsters are real—and one of them is her very own sister," the book description reads.
50. ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns' by Khaled Hosseini
Amazon
"This story is devastating because of its realism, but extraordinary because of the strength and love between women. The pain is immense, but so is the humanity," Hunt says.The book tells the story of two women born a generation apart but brought together by war."As they endure the ever escalating dangers around them-in their home as well as in the streets of Kabul-they come to form a bond that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will ultimately alter the course not just of their own lives but of the next generation," the book description reads.
51. ‘Notes on Grief' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Amazon
After losing her father during the COVID-19 pandemic, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie reflected on how the loss "shook her to her core" in this book. "She writes about being one of the millions of people grieving this year; about the familial and cultural dimensions of grief and also about the loneliness and anger that are unavoidable in it," the description reads.Jessie Ludwig, a librarian at Cincinnati Public Library, describes the book as "a good cry and thoughtful exploration of love lasting longer than grief, even in the worst situations."
52. ‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close' by Jonathan Safran Foer
Amazon
"Through a child’s eyes, grief becomes both overwhelming and oddly hopeful. This book's experimental structure mirrors the messiness of loss in a way that feels achingly real," Hunt says.Readers follow the story of 9-year-old Oskar Schell, who is on a secret mission through New York's five boroughs."His goal is to find the lock that matches a mysterious key that belonged to his father, who died in the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11," the book description reads. Along the way, he will meet "survivors of all sorts" and experience a "healing journey."
53. ‘One of Our Own' by Lucinda Berry
Amazon
This novel follows a single mother named Felicia who works as a lawyer and volunteers at a crisis center. When she answers a call from a teenage girl who was a victim of sexual assault, Felicia goes against the rules and starts reaching out to the girl to keep her safe. "But as she gets closer and closer to the truth, she can’t shake the feeling that she and the girl are connected by more than the phone call. As the girl shares more details, Felicia begins to think the unthinkable—someone close to her may be involved in this heinous crime," the book description reads.Sheldon is a fan of the book and says it's an emotional read."The sadness builds as the cracks in a seemingly perfect family start to show, and by the end, you’re left sitting with that heavy, unsettled feeling that nothing will ever quite be the same again," she says.
54. ‘Demon Copperhead' by Barbara Kingsolver
Amazon
"This adaptation of Charles Dickens' David Copperfield is set in Appalachia. It will touch every inch of your heartstrings. Not only is it a great story of resilience and finding one's way through social systems, it's written so beautifully," Welsh says.The book tells the tale of a boy who is born to a teenage single mother."Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses," the book description reads. "Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities."
55. ‘That’s Not My Name‘ by Megan Lally
Amazon
"The sadness creeps in as the story unfolds, leaving you confused and hopeful. As you wish for a good outcome for all of the characters, the ending will leave you with mixed emotions," Sheldon shares.When a teenager wakes up on the side of a road and can't remember how she got there or who she is, a police officer takes her back to the police station. Soon, a man shows up with her school ID, family photos and birth certificate and says he's been searching for her. He claims to be her father and says her name is Mary. Then the story becomes complicated."When Lola slammed the car door and stormed off into the night, Drew thought they just needed some time to cool off. Except Lola disappeared, and the sheriff, his friends, and the whole town are convinced Drew murdered his girlfriend. Forget proving his innocence, he needs to find her before it's too late. The longer Lola is missing, the fewer leads there are to follow…and the more danger they both are in," the book description reads.
56. ‘The Love Story of Missy Carmichael‘ by Beth Morrey
Amazon
Related: 25 Best Short Books You Can Easily Read in a Day, According to Librarians
Sources:
Amanda Hunt, librarian better known as @thenextgenlibrarian on Instagram.Tara Gold, high school librarian who is known by the TikTok handle @literallytara.Dory Klein, Community History Supervisor at the Boston Public Library.Sara Rottger, Teen Librarian at the Wilmington Memorial Library.Adam Vorobok, librarian at the Cincinnati Public Library.Melissa Davis, librarian at the Cincinnati Public Library.Rachael Welsh, librarian who goes by @rachaelreads on Instagram.Nathalie Harty, Director of the Wilmington Memorial Library.Tara Jankowski, Manager of Adult Services at the Worcester Public Library.Rebecca Lowe, Library Associate at the Wilmington Memorial Library.Sam Helmick, President of the American Library Association.Linnea Sheldon, Community Relations & Communications Manager at the Worcester Public Library.Amy Klein, Adult Services Librarian at the Worcester Public Library.Trix Gebele, librarian at Cincinnati Public Library.Stephanie Cooper, librarian at Cincinnati Public Library.Jessie Ludwig, librarian at Cincinnati Public Library.Hence then, the article about 56 best sad books that will definitely make you cry according to librarians was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( 56 Best Sad Books That Will Definitely Make You Cry, According to Librarians )
Also on site :