Families who loved Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume 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 teen is grappling with the heavy weight of sudden loss, post-traumatic stress, or the paralyzing grip of anxiety. Tiger Eyes follows Davey Wexler as she navigates life after her father is murdered, moving from her home in New Jersey to the high deserts of New Mexico. It is a deeply realistic look at the messy, non-linear process of grieving, capturing the rage and isolation that often accompany tragedy. While the subject matter is intense, Judy Blume offers a path toward healing through Davey's connection with nature and her burgeoning independence. This story is best suited for older middle schoolers and high schoolers who are ready for an honest, secular exploration of death and recovery. Parents might choose this to validate their child's complex emotions and to open a door for conversations about mental health, therapy, and finding resilience in the face of life's most difficult changes.