Are you looking for a sad book, one that will bring you to tears? Did you love The Fault in Our Stars? Are you tired of books with happy endings? Check out these options…

Just don’t forget to bring the Kleenex – you will need it when reading these books.

Remember – all Fiction books are alphabetical by the author’s last name. If you have trouble finding a book, please talk to Ms. McBride. If the one you want is checked out, she can order you one from the Boston Public Library.

 Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

When Clay walks outside one day, he discovers a box full of cassette tapes sitting on his porch, with a letter. In the letter, Hannah explains that by listening to the thirteen tapes, you will hear why she decides to end her life. Each tape is the story of one person who had an effect on her decision.

Clay immediately knows he has to listen to the tapes, to figure out what role he had in Hannah’s decision. You won’t want to put it down, even through your tears.

Find it: F Asher

 

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Mia has so many choices in front of her – does she follow her passion with music and leave her boyfriend, her family, and everything she knows behind or does she give up her dream to be with the ones she loves. She’s in the middle of making the decision when suddenly everything changes. Now there is only one choice – life, or death.

Seen the movie? That’s okay, the book is so much better. Read this book and liked it? Check out the sequel Where She Went.

Find it: F Forman

 

 I Was Here by Gayle Forman

Meg and Cody were the type of best friends who did everything together; they knew each other’s secrets and could finish each other’s sentences. Then, Meg goes away for college and it all changes.

The book begins with Cody going to Meg’s apartment to pick up her things after Meg has committed suicide. Everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend begins to change as she tries to make sense of Meg’s death.

Find it: F Forman

 

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Miles’ parents have decided that he should now attend a boarding school. Prior to this point, his life has been rather, well, uneventful. Down the hall from Miles at Culver Creek is Alaska. Her life is anything but uneventful. As Miles first befriends, and then falls for Alaska, she introduces him to a world of adventure.

And that’s all I can tell you, other than that you must read this book. It’s from John Green, enough said.

Find it: F Green

 

 Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor

Olivia and Zoe are best friends with big plans for future. However, those plans did not include Olivia getting sick. And they definitely did not include having Zoe fall for Olivia’s crush.

The one thing that keeps Zoe going is she just knows that Olivia will get better and then all their plans can happen, maybe just a little later than they thought. She has to stay positive because she can’t imagine what life would be like if Olivia doesn’t get better.

Find it: F Kantor

 

 Little Peach by Peggy Kern

Michelle runs away from home to get away from her mother, who is a drug addict. She goes to New York City hoping to find freedom and a better life. Instead, she find Devon. At first, it seems like it was meant to be – he has money, a place for her to stay, and seems to really care. But soon she’s no longer Michelle – she’s now his “Little Peach” and she finds herself being sold out each night to different men.

Trigger warning: sexual abuse.

Find it: F Kern

 

 Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Taylor’s family isn’t what you would call dysfunctional. They aren’t as close as some families, but it still works for them. That is, until her Dad gets terrible news. Her family decides to spend one last summer all together at their lake house, which they haven’t been back to in a number of years.

Taylor also sees her old best friend, who she has grown apart from, plus an old crush. What will this summer bring and how will it end? Read this to find out.

Find it: F Matson

 

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

What if, after you died, you woke up again and began reliving the day you died, over and over? This is what happens to Samantha, who dies the day of a huge party, only to wake up the next morning and relive it again, every day for the next seven days.

Samantha discovers that sometimes the smallest things in your life, the things you don’t even give a second thought, are the things that could change everything.

Find it: F Oliver

 

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Anna’s sister Kate has been sick with cancer since she was very young, and the whole reason Anna was born was so that she could be a bone marrow donor for Kate. While Anna is healthy, she feels like she is the sick one, always being poked and prodded to help Kate survive.

As Anna begins to question what she wants in her life, she makes a decision that will effect her whole family.

Find it: F Picoult

 

 Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor has just moved to a new school, and her first day on the bus begins with other kids making fun of her. Park rides the same bus as her, and they begin sitting together and slowly, over time, become closer. Does first love ever last?

Not a spoiler, since this is list of sad books, but the author, Rainbow Rowell, says “I don’t believe that 17-year-olds get happy endings. They get beginnings.”

Find it: F Rowell

 

Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider

Told in alternating points of view, we learn about the lives of Lane and Sadie, two teens who are now living at the Latham boarding school. However, it isn’t just a boarding school, it’s also a hospital, because all the teens here have tuberculosis.

Lane knew Sadie from years ago, but the Sadie he meets now is completely different – sarcastic and fearless, she shows him the ins and outs of life at Latham. As they fall for each other, they also have to deal with their sickness and what happens when you don’t get better.

Find it: F Schneider

 

Far From You by Tess Sharpe

Sophie and Mina were best friends. And when your best friend is killed, in what everyone calls a drug deal, you are forced to go to rehab even if you’ve been clean for months. Except, Mina wasn’t killed during a drug deal gone bad – she was murdered. And only Sophie knows the real truth of her murder.

Now out of rehab, Sophie is focused on tracking down Mina’s killer. Part mystery and entirely an emotional roller coaster, you won’t want to put this one down.

Find it: F Sharpe

 

Did you read one of these books and enjoy it?

Do you have a suggestion of a book for this list?

For suggestions, rants, and raves about books, talk to Ms. McBride. You can email her at: bmcbride@fenwayhs.org