# Books like You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye

**10** books similar to *You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye* by Patricia Hermes (Realistic Fiction · grades 4–6), matched on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level. Every pick is grade-appropriate (a reading-level match, not just a topical one) and links to where it is assigned in US schools.

**Themes:** death, mothers and daughters, cancer, anglais (langue)
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/similar/you-shouldnt-have-to-say-goodbye
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## Similar books

- [Freaky Friday](https://readinglist.school/book/freaky-friday) by Mary Rodgers _(Grades 4–6)_ — Shares themes of mothers and daughters, both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–6).
- [All About Sam](https://readinglist.school/book/all-about-sam) by Lois Lowry _(Grades 4–6)_ — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
- [Blackwater](https://readinglist.school/book/blackwater) by Eve Bunting _(Grades 6–8)_ — Shares themes of death, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8).
- [Call Me Hope](https://readinglist.school/book/call-me-hope) by Gretchen Olson _(Grades 3–5)_ — Shares themes of mothers and daughters, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5).
- [Clayton Byrd Goes Underground](https://readinglist.school/book/clayton-byrd-goes-underground) by Rita Williams-Garcia _(Grades 3–5)_ — Shares themes of death, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5).
- [Dear Mr. Henshaw](https://readinglist.school/book/dear-mr-henshaw) by Beverly Cleary _(Grades 4–6)_ — Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
- [December Stillness](https://readinglist.school/book/december-stillness) by Mary Downing Hahn _(Grades 6–8)_ — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8).
- [Drive-By](https://readinglist.school/book/drive-by) by Lynne Ewing _(Grades 3–8)_ — Shares themes of death, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
- [Fig Pudding](https://readinglist.school/book/fig-pudding) by Ralph J. Fletcher _(Grades 3–5)_ — Shares themes of death, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5).
- [Flying Solo](https://readinglist.school/book/flying-solo) by Ralph J. Fletcher _(Grades 4–6)_ — Shares themes of death, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

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