Books are amazing for many reasons and one of those is that each reader has a different experience with each book. But there are also books that you look at and you think “this one will make everyone cry”. Today, I am here to share with you those books! The ones that will make you cry regardless of who you are.
History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
In general, I think any Adam Silvera is a good pick if you’re on the lookout for a book that will make you cry, but I feel like History is All You Left Me is especially sad. It follows Griffin, a boy whose ex-boyfriend and best friend, recently died. As a result, this book deals a lot with grief, making it quite the tearjerker.
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How To Make a Wish by Ashley Herring Blake
How to Make a Wish is a book that has a lot going on. However, the main plot line, in my opinion, is Grace, the main character, and her relationship with her absentee mother. A lot of this book also talks about how difficult family relationships are sometimes and it follows Grace as she finds her own place in the world. It’s definitely one that’s sure to make you tear up.
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The Mountain’s Secret by Mr. Mintz
The Mountain’s Secret explores the darker side of fairy tales in a way that is suitable for younger children. This brings nuisance to fairy tales, which could be interesting for readers who have grown tired of the same repetitive fairy tale being read to them over and over again. This graphic novel puts a new spin a traditional st0ory that you think you know the ending to. The illustrations also give the book a much more comic book feel to the table, which is a step up from the more simplistic style usually used in children’s graphic novels. This graphic novel is an exploration of fairy tales and a cautionary tale rolled into one and it’s a read that 9-12 year olds are sure to enjoy!
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A List of Cages by Robin Roe
A List of Cages is a heartbreaking story of friendship and found family and how some bonds are stronger than blood. Any reader alive is bound to get attached to these characters and the relationships that are formed within them. Especially with the heavier topics discussed in this book, this one definitely qualifies for the tearjerker title.
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The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Poet X follows Xiomara, a girl from New York, as she’s trying to find her place in the world. She processes her feelings through poetry, so this book is a collection of all those poems. The reader gets to watch Xiomara as she struggles with her religion and her identity and ultimately comes to a very satisfying conclusion. The book is written in such a heartfelt way that the reader can’t help but feel for Xiomara. It’s sure to be getting some tears out of you by the end.
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The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan
The Astonishing Color of After follows Leigh, a girl whose mother recently died by suicide, travelling to Taiwan and reconnecting with her relatives. This deals with grief in a very honest and original way and it’s sure to make you tear up. This one’s also got a bit of a magical realism element to it and that’s executed beautifully as well.
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We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
We Are Okay is another book that deals with grief, but in addition to that, this one deals with people and things not necessarily being as they appear and I really enjoyed that message as well. At its heart, this book is about friendships and family and how complicated they can really get. It’s a short one, but it’s bound to make you sob.
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Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore
Wild Beauty is a beautiful story about a family of women who a) have lived in the same garden for as long as they remember and b) cannot fall in love because every time one of the women from their family has fallen in love, it has ended in a tragedy. This book is a wonderful commentary on rewriting history and the things that aren’t included in the history books. The characters are wonderful and they’re sure to get you to shed a few tears.
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Far From The Tree by Robin Benway
Far From The Tree is a beautiful story about three biological siblings that were adopted by different families meeting for the first time and trying to reconnect with their biological family. This is a book about old friendships and new friendships and it muses on what the definition of family really is. The characters capture your heart and never let go.
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Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Summer Bird Blue is yet another book that deals with grief, but this one discusses the things that go on inside a grieving person’s brain in a lot more detail. The way this book is written makes you feel like you’re very much inside the main character’s brain and you’re grieving along with her, which is both weird and good at the same time. Because of how closely you connect to the main character, a lot of things affect you the same way they affect her, which is the gateway to a lot of crying in this case.
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I hope this helped you find your next tearjerker read!