Books Like The Other Side of Dark
Families who loved The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith 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 The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith 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 teenager is struggling with the visceral, often messy reality of grief and feels isolated by their own intrusive thoughts or 'ghosts' of the past. It is particularly helpful for those who express their emotions through art rather than words. The story follows fifteen-year-old Katie, who is haunted by literal hallucinations and the traumatic memory of her mother's sudden death a year prior. Through a blend of psychological realism and supernatural mystery, the book explores how grief can blur the lines between what is real and what is felt. It validates the 'unattractive' parts of mourning: the anger, the desire to be left alone, and the fear that life will never feel solid again. While it contains spooky elements, the heart of the story is about a girl learning to distinguish between the shadows of her trauma and the light of her future. It is a sophisticated, emotionally intense choice for mature middle schoolers and high school students.
