Sometimes a good cry can be cathartic, and we all know how important a healthy emotional release can be during these trying times. That’s why I have put together a list of tearjerkers for your perusal. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy before picking any of these stories up. All of these titles are available to borrow on Live-brary (Overdrive).
Everything I Never Told You, by Celeste Ng
Chinese American immigrants Marilyn and James Lee rest their hopes of the American Dream on their favorite child, Lydia. But when Lydia’s body is found in a nearby lake, it turns the family and its dynamic upside down. A story about grief, race, relationships, and expectations, this heart-wrenching tale will have you captivated from start to finish.
My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
Anna is born so Kate can live. Kate has leukemia, and when Kate got sick as a child her parents decided to have Anna so that Kate could have a bone marrow match. But Anna is her own person too, with her own thoughts, personality, and dreams. What does it mean for Anna when her only purpose is to keep her sister alive? I can personally attest to the fact that this book wreaked emotional havoc on me for days after I finished. You won’t regret picking this one up.
Marley and Me, by John Grogan
We all know that we don’t deserve dogs, but this book just solidifies that notion. In this book, we see the Grogan family pick out their first dog, Marley. Marley is a “bad” dog: he chews things, he gets kicked out of obedience school, and is constantly getting into trouble. But despite all the vexation he causes, the love between man and dog blossoms. This one’s the definition of a tearjerker.
Goodbye, Vitamin, by Rachel Khong
Ruth is questioning everything when she decides to pack up and have a long-term stay at her parents’ house. She just broke off her engagement and she’s frankly disappointed with the way her life has turned out thus far. Seeking respite at her parents’ home turns out to be more than she bargained for: she discovers her father is struggling with advanced memory loss, which has clearly taken a toll on her mother. While the situation seems severe, Ruth finds the comedy in the tragedy and she redefines her outlook on life.
Room, by Emma Donoghue
Jack has never left Room. It’s where he was born and it’s where he lived all 5 years of his life up until now. It’s his favorite place. But to Ma, Room is a nightmare. It’s where she was brought after she was taken against her will and where she has spent the last 7 years of misery. But if she knows one thing, it’s that she loves her son. And she will do anything to protect him...and get him out.
The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
Pecola Breedlove just wants to be pretty. Each day the idea that her dark skin and curly hair make her ugly is reinforced by the people around her, and so she envies the white skin and blue eyes that society deems as beautiful. Her life takes an even more unfortunate turn when she becomes a victim of rape and falls pregnant. The first book written by literary giant Toni Morrison, this story is an examination of beauty standards, racial conflict (both inner and outer), sexual abuse, and trauma, and has one of the most heartbreaking endings in history.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer
Set in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attack on New York City, this novel centers around Oskar, a 9-year-old boy who just lost his dad in the 9/11 attack. He is convinced his dad has left him a final message hidden somewhere in NYC. In his search for this secret, Oskar wanders around the city looking for answers. His journey does help him find answers, just not the ones he was originally searching for.
When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi
The last selection on this list is this memoir which follows the real-life story of Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. He was treating the dying, and now he was the one dying. Kalanithi ruminates on what makes life meaningful in the face of death, what happens when you can no longer climb the proverbial ladder of success, and what mortality looks and feels like when you’re a new father who is also on his deathbed.
