Families who loved Josie Bloom and the Emergency of Life by Susan Hill Long 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 grappling with the quiet ache of a parent's absence or the destabilizing feeling of moving to a new, unfamiliar place. It serves as a gentle anchor for children who feel like they are waiting for their real life to begin again after a family fracture. The story follows Josie Bloom as she navigates life in a coastal town, searching for a sense of belonging while her mother is away. It is a deeply empathetic look at resilience and the way found family can fill the gaps left by biological ones. Best suited for ages 8 to 12, this story validates the complicated mix of hope and resentment that often accompanies a single-parent transition. It offers a secular, realistic perspective on finding home within oneself and within a supportive community.
