Books Like What About Will
Families who loved What About Will by Ellen Hopkins 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 What About Will by Ellen Hopkins 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 child is struggling to navigate the 'before and after' of a family tragedy or feeling invisible in the wake of a sibling's needs. What About Will follows twelve-year-old Trace as he grapples with the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury that changed his older brother, Will, from a star athlete into someone impulsive and unrecognizable. Written in accessible verse, the story explores the heavy toll of a mother's abandonment and the isolation felt by the 'healthy' child in a fractured home. It is a poignant choice for children aged 10 to 14 who are dealing with divorce, family illness, or the feeling that their own needs have been sidelined by a family crisis. Parents will appreciate how it validates complex emotions like resentment and grief while providing a realistic path toward healing and connection.
