Books Like Dear Papa
Families who loved Dear Papa by Anne Ylvisaker often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Families who loved Dear Papa by Anne Ylvisaker often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is processing a significant loss and needs a gentle, safe way to navigate the long tail of grief. Set in 1943, it follows nine-year-old Isabelle as she begins writing letters to her father one year after his death. This is not a book about the immediate shock of loss, but about the quiet, persistent work of remembering and moving forward while keeping a loved one's memory alive. Through letters to her father and other family members, Isabelle explores complex emotions like resentment, joy, and the guilt that sometimes comes with feeling happy again. It is an ideal choice for middle-grade readers (ages 8-12) because it validates that grief doesn't have a fixed timeline. Parents will appreciate the historical setting and the way it models writing as a powerful tool for emotional regulation and healing.
