Families who loved The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price by Jennifer Maschari 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 stuck in the 'what ifs' of grief or struggling to accept a new reality after a major loss. It is a compassionate exploration of the magnetic pull of the past and the difficult, necessary work of choosing to live in the present. Twelve year old Charlie and his younger sister Imogen discover a secret world where their mother is still alive, but they soon realize that staying in a world of memories comes at a terrifying cost. This story uses a magical 'Other World' to give physical form to abstract feelings of depression and nostalgia. It is ideal for middle grade readers who need to see that while grief is heavy, moving forward is not the same as moving on from the person they love. Parents will appreciate how it validates the desire to escape reality while ultimately celebrating the beauty of our messy, imperfect world.
