"The art of losing isn't hard to master," wrote poet Elizabeth Bishop. Perhaps she meant that we will all face loss at some point in our lives. In this collection, we have brought together texts that take up the universal experience of grief.
Publication year 1998
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, American Literature, Education, Education, Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, LGBTQ
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, History: World, Romance
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Community
Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Diversity, Bullying, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family
Tags Irish Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Fantasy, LGBTQ, Jewish Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Self Discovery
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Animals
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Magical Realism, LGBTQ
Publication year 2008
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Children's Literature, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Indigenous, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Magical Realism, Southern Literature, History: World
Publication year 1816
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Regret
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Fate
Publication year 1969
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Poverty, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction
Where the Lilies Bloom (1969) is a middle-grade historical fiction novel written by married authors Vera Cleaver and Bill Cleaver. The couple collaborated on stories and novels for middle-grade and young adult readers throughout their life, believing that writing for adolescent age groups was a meaningful endeavor. They often wrote about realistic settings and themes, exploring the intricacies of human nature. Where the Lilies Bloom is their most famous work. It is a coming-of-age novel... Read Where the Lilies Bloom Summary
Publication year 2011
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Race / Racism, African American Literature, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, History: World, Biography
Carolyn Maull McKinstry's memoir While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement (2011) describes the author’s experiences growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, during the 1950s and 1960s. At 14 years old, McKinstry survived the racially motivated bombing of Sixteen Street Baptist Church. Four of McKinstry’s friends were killed in the explosion, and the trauma of the experience haunted her into adulthood. McKinstry later embraced a peaceful approach... Read While the World Watched Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Mental Illness, Psychology, Grief / Death, Depression / Suicide
Publication year 2024
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags History: World, Race / Racism, Biography
Publication year 2019
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Nation
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Drama / Tragedy, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Military / War, History: World
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Education, Education, Science / Nature, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine
Publication year 2012
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Grief / Death, Travel Literature, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Science / Nature, Action / Adventure, Biography
Publication year 2025
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage