Books Like How to Save a Life
Families who loved How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr 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 How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr 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 teenager is navigating the messy, isolating process of grief or struggling to accept a major family change, such as a new adoption or a parent moving on after a loss. It is a deeply resonant choice for teens who feel like they are being forced to 'replace' a loved one or who are grappling with their own sense of belonging. The story follows two girls: Jill, who is mourning her father, and Mandy, a pregnant teen looking for the family she never had. The book handles heavy themes of grief, teen pregnancy, and adoption with a realistic, secular lens. It is most appropriate for high schoolers due to its emotional intensity and mature situations. Parents will appreciate how it validates the anger and resistance children often feel during times of transition, ultimately showing that family is built through shared vulnerability.
