Library Books
Our library contains a range of book titles for free use by our members. These are available through the support group.
Recommended Books
List of books on sibling loss
Here are some resources that we have found helpful.
Children Are Not Paper Dolls by Erin Linn Levy
This is a book of drawings and quotations from young bereaved siblings. They talk about their personal experiences of loss, hearing the news, what the funeral was like, how they reacted, how their families changed, their feelings of guilt and sorrow, and what helped them to heal. A good resource for bereaved siblings of all ages.
Coping With the Death of a Brother or Sister by Ruth Ann Ruiz
The author describes the stages of grief for siblings and comments on the impact of cause of death on the grief process.
For Those Who Live: Helping Children Cope with the Death of a Brother or Sister by Kathy LaTour
This is not a long book, but it’s heartfelt compassion shines through every page. Only a bereaved sibling could have written it. The book talks about what happens when you lose a sibling-the grief that doesn’t match what it “should,” the change in family dynamics, the struggles and the hope. Using wisdom gathered from many sources, the author helps the reader face the reality of loss.
In the Shadow of Illness by Myra Bluebond-Langner
The author Myra Bluebond-Langner has written many articles about siblings who grow up with a brother or sister who has a chronic disease. Like the book, Sibling Loss, this book focuses on families with a child who has cystic fibrosis, but describes issues common to all families who have a child with a chronic or fatal illness.
An Intimate Loneliness : Supporting Bereaved Parents and Siblings by Gordon Riches, Pam Dawson
This book explores how family members come to terms with the loss of a sibling. Through research, they studied how the finding of meaning and interpretation of grief affects the bereaved parents and children.
The Lone Twin: Understanding Twin Bereavement and Loss by Joan Woodward
This book was written by a psychotherapist in England, who explores what happens when twins are separated, especially by death. Since twin mortality is high, it is not unusual for the surviving twin’s loss to go unnoticed. The author says that the relationship between twins is highly significant and begin for many twins before they are actually born. The book is based on interviews with 219 “lone twins”. Woodward is an Attachment therapist and bases her understanding of twin loss on Bowlby’s theory of attachment. She includes a chapter on interventions for professionals.
Losing Someone You Love: When a Brother or Sister Dies by Elizabeth Richter
True stories written by surviving siblings age 10-24. For all ages.
Recovering from the loss of a sibling by Katherine Fair Donnelly
Numerous stories from the lives of bereaved siblings. The author points out the similarities found in sibling loss, whatever the age of the bereaved.
Shadows in the Sun: The Experiences of Sibling Bereavement in Childhood by Betty Davies
The grief of surviving siblings is an individual journey that does not fit well into the widely accepted descriptions of grief ‘stages’. This book covers the immediate, short-term, and long-term responses to the death of a brother or sister in childhood and adolescence. It also describes the subsequent generational effects of sibling bereavement. Although the book is intended for professional caregivers, surviving siblings can learn much about themselves from a careful reading of this book. The final chapter brings together all that has gone before into a comprehensive model of sibling bereavement. Practical guidelines are offered for those who seek to help grieving siblings, children, and families.
If you have any recommendations, please contact us with the details.