The Suitcase Kid 

by Jacqueline Wilson (Corgi Yearling Books, 1992; new ed. 2001)

Jacket: “Andy used to live alone with her Mum and Dad at Mulberry Cottage but now Dad lives with spacey Carrie and her twins and Mum lives with ‘Bill the Baboon’ and his three kids while Andy doesn’t have a home of her own. She travels back and forth - one week here and one week there - with Radish her Sylvanian Rabbit (toy) and not much else to call her very own. Andy’s parents think they are doing their best for her but they often say and do things that make Andy’s life very difficult.”

Ages 8-12

Ginny Morris and Mom's House, Dad's House 

by Mary Collins Gallagher, illustrated by Whitney Martin (Magination Press, 2005).

Ginny is in grade four and her parents have been divorced for two years. Joint custody can be tough for kids practically and emotionally. Ginny’s story highlights many day-to-day experiences and she comes up with some creative solutions to these common problems.

Ages 8-12

Ginny Morris and Dad's New Girlfriend 

by Mary Collins Gallagher, illustrated by Whitney Martin (Magination Press, 2006)

Ginny is in grade five. Ginny’s parents have been divorced for 3 years and now her dad has a girlfriend. Ginny sorts through her feelings with the help of her best friend, her journal, and talks with Mom and Dad.

Ages 8-12

Finding the Right Spot When Kids Can’t Live with Their Parents

by Janice Levy, illustrated by Whitney Martin (Magination Press, 2004)

"Aunt Dane takes care of kids like me when their real parents can't. Like when your mom loses her job and can't pay the rent and drinks too much and gets sick so you stay home from school to take care of her. That's what happened to me."

“A Note to Caregivers by Jennifer Wilgocki, MS, and Marcia Kahn Wright, PhD, discusses the emotional experience of children who are in foster care, kinship care, or otherwise not living with their parents, and the vital support that the adults in their lives can offer.”

Ages 6-12

Maybe Days

by Jennifer Wilgocki, MS, and Marcia Kahn Wright, PhD (Magination Press, 20001)