Families who loved Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea by Ashley Herring Blake often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent would reach for this book when their child is grappling with the 'aftershocks' of a significant loss, especially the death of a parent or a traumatic accident. It is particularly suited for children who feel physically or emotionally marked by their grief and are struggling to find their footing in a world that feels forever changed. The story follows twelve-year-old Hazel as her family moves to a coastal Maine town two years after her mother died in a kayaking accident. Hazel carries a literal scar from the event and a deep, paralyzing fear of the water. As she navigates a new friendship and a local mystery involving a mythical mermaid, the book explores themes of PTSD, anxiety, and the complicated nature of moving forward without forgetting. It is an emotionally honest, secular, and deeply hopeful choice for middle grade readers (ages 8 to 12) who need to see that healing is a messy, non-linear process.
