Tag Archives: Death of a Mother

This page lists books that contain trigger warnings for the depiction of death of a mother.

See also Grief & loss depiction.

Wings of Ebony by J. Elle

“Make a way out of no way” is just the way of life for Rue. But when her mother is shot dead on her doorstep, life for her and her younger sister changes forever. Rue’s taken from her neighborhood by the father she never knew, forced to leave her little sister behind, and whisked away to Ghizon—a hidden island of magic wielders. Rue is the only half-god, half-human there, where leaders protect their magical powers at all costs and thrive on human suffering. Miserable and desperate to see her sister on the anniversary of their mother’s death, Rue breaks Ghizon’s sacred Do… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Racism & racial slurs
  • Hate crime
  • Physical child abuse
  • Blood & gore depiction and emesis
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a mother
  • Murder
  • Gun violence
  • Police brutality

The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone by Jaclyn Moriarty

Bronte Mettlestone is ten years old when her parents are killed by pirates.This does not bother her her parents ran away to have adventures when she was a baby. She has been raised by her Aunt Isabelle, with assistance from the Butler, and has spent a pleasant childhood of afternoon teas and riding lessons. Now, however, her parents have left detailed instructions for Bronte in their will. (Instructions that, annoyingly, have been reinforced with faery cross-stitch, which means that if she doesn’t complete them, terrible things could happen!) She travels the kingdoms, perf… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Physical illness (on-page)
  • Death of a mother & father
  • Loss of autonomy (magical mind control)
  • Kidnapping & wrongful imprisonment

The Other Side of the River by Alda P. Dobbs

Petra Luna is in America, having escaped the Mexican Revolution and the terror of the Federales. Now that they are safe, Petra and her family can begin again, in this country that promises so much. Still, twelve-year-old Petra knows that her abuelita, little sister, and baby brother depend on her to survive. She leads her family from a smallpox-stricken refugee camp on the Texas border to the buzzing city of San Antonio, where they work hard to build a new life. And for the first time ever, Petra has a chance to learn to read and write. Yet Petra also sees in America attitudes she thought… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Period-typical racism, classism & sexism
  • Death of a mother from childbirth mentioned
  • Mexican Revolution recounted

Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna by Alda P. Dobbs

It is 1913, and twelve-year-old Petra Luna’s mama has died while the Revolution rages in Mexico. Before her papa is dragged away by soldiers, Petra vows to him that she will care for the family she has left―her abuelita, little sister Amelia, and baby brother Luisito―until they can be reunited. They flee north through the unforgiving desert as their town burns, searching for safe harbour in a world that offers none. Each night when Petra closes her eyes, she holds her dreams close, especially her long-held desire to learn to read. Abuelita calls these barefoot dreams… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Classism
  • Anti-Indigenous racism
  • Starvation & water scarcity
  • Death of a mother from childbirth recounted
  • Police & military violence including forced conscription and burning of a village

Each and Every Spark by Claire Swinarski

Paris, present day. Penny Marks has never felt so alone. Forced to move to France for some fancy job her mom couldn’t turn down, she’s now miles away from her old life. If she hadn’t quit art after all that drama went down last year, she’d at least have something to keep her mind off the fact that life back home is moving on without her. Paris, 1943. Marie Bonnet has never felt so afraid. When the German army seized power over France, she and her sister Heloise watched their father get taken away, leaving them on their own. Then Marie finds evidence that Heloise has secret… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Protagonist with memory loss
  • Sibling with long-term illness leading to hearing loss
  • Death of a mother recounted
  • World War I (theme), including period-typical food scarcity

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

In Edinburgh, a secret war rages between humans and fae, and the magic in Aileana Kameron’s blood is all that keeps the most lethal monsters imprisoned beneath the city. But when the creatures she once pursued now hunt her, Aileana has no choice but to ally with Kiaran MacKay – the beautiful fae assassin with his own agenda. The chemistry between them is as incendiary as the battles raging through the streets. And as the body count climbs, Aileana faces a choice: how much is she willing to sacrifice to save her city? Her friends? Herself? Because the fae won’t stop until… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Period-typical misogyny & classism
  • Parental neglect
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Blood & gore depiction
  • Near-fatal bout of pneumonia recounted
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a mother recounted (detailed)
  • Death of a wife
  • Murder & physical assault
  • Sword violence & stabbing
  • Loss of autonomy (compulsion magic)
  • Battle scenes

Savage Lover by Sophie Lark

Two people who believe they’re unworthy of love… until they meet each other. Camille Rivera is drowning. Her father’s sick, her brother’s in deep with a dirty cop, and her mechanic shop is failing. Nero Gallo is the neighbourhood psychopath. As vicious as he is gorgeous, Camille has watched him burn through every girl in a ten-mile radius, breaking hearts and never, ever getting attached. Which is why she can’t believe it when Nero saves her from a seriously sticky situation. They’ve lived next to each other all their lives — is it… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Parental abandonment recounted
  • Death of a mother
  • Organised crime

Saint Juniper’s Folly by Alex Crespo

For Jaime, returning to the tiny Vermont town of Saint Juniper means returning to a past he’s spent eight years trying to forget. After shuttling between foster homes, he hopes he can make something out of this fresh start. But every gossip in town already knows his business, and with reminders of his past everywhere, he seeks out solitude into the nearby woods, called Saint Juniper’s Folly, and does not return. For Theo, Saint Juniper means being stuck. He knows there’s more out there, but he’s scared to go find it. His senior year is going to be like all the rest, dull and claus… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Racism
  • Parental abandonment recounted
  • Foster care system experiences
  • Hospitalisation
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a mother recounted
  • House fire
  • Animal death

Stay with My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan

Liana Sarkar lives and breathes music, hoping to follow in the footsteps of her A&R coordinator father. Maybe if she succeeds, he’ll finally give her the time of day instead of drowning himself in work to distract from the grief of her mother’s passing. When Liana accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band, Third Eye, she makes it her mission to steer them towards success—without them discovering her role in their setback. But as she gets closer to Third Eye, especially their enigmatic leader Skyler Moon, it becomes harder to hide the truth. With both her heart and… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Child abandonment & neglect
  • Anxiety & depression (protagonist)
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a mother recounted

Bad Dream by Giana Darling

Bianca is trying to survive in the small Texas town. Her only goal–to keep her younger brother healthy. Everything changes when Tiernan shows up at her mother’s door in a suit and tattoos. His dark world is all-consuming, but she doesn’t want his money. Or his secrets. Until her mother dies. Then she has no choice but to turn to the only person who can help.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Adult-minor relationship*
  • Death of a mother

*Context : Relationship between a seventeen-year-old girl and thirty-year-old man.