As a result of several students requesting sad books, tearjerkers and books with heart, I have created this list of recommendations. Although I do not regularly seek out “tear-jerkers” or sad books, it came as a surprise to me as I was making this list that I had read most of the books on this list at some point in time in my life.

Then I began to dig a little deeper. Many of the books on this list will tug at your heartstrings. They are books with characters you will remember long after you have finished the book. Quite a few books on this list have won top literary awards in children’s literature.