Does anyone have recommendations for books about overcoming great pain or tragedy?

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I’m especially interested in stories based on true events like, “Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.” I’m not opposed to fiction, but I definitely don’t want any self-help / instructional books.

Thank you!
Thanks for all the great answers - keep em' coming.

Clara - I've read all the books in the Harry Potter series several times, and just finished reading "Deathly Hallows" again. "Left to Tell: Finding God Among The Rwandan Holocaust" sounds like what I'm looking for. That goes on my list. THANK YOU!

L JK - I love Maya Angelou - "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" goes on my list, as well. I can't believe I've never read it. "The Joy Luck Club" is one of my favorite books. I'll check out the other one's you recommended.
 
I don't read much non-fiction, but there is a realistic fiction book called Sarah's Wish. Sarah has to get over her mother dieing, becoming and orphan, finding a new home, the underground railroad. Lots of the book is her way of getting over her mothers death, and moving on. Quite a bit of action, but it isn't fights, the story just moves quickly. Short book too.
 
I LOVED "The Diary of Anne Frank" even though it was completely devastating. But I love books that make you "feel", etc.
Some books I would recommend are:
-The Harry Potter series (the grief, loss and struggles that Harry has to face over the course of the series is so immense, even for a "children's book". The final book "Deathly Hallows" is a return to his childhood happiness in some ways as he finally overcomes the source of this disparing grief throughout his life.)
- Rover by Jackie French is about a Danish girl stolen and taken as a slave on a Viking ship and her whole family and village is destroyed. The whole book is about her adventures and overcoming her losses and making a place for herself in the future. (It is also one of my favorite books ever and is kind of like Historic Fiction because the girl travels with Erik the Red, son of the famous real-life Viking Leif Ericsson).
-"Left to Tell: Finding God Among the Rwandan Holocaust" by Immaculee Ilibagiza is one of the most moving books I've ever read. It's the true story of recent Rwandan Holocaust survivor Immaculee (the author). It is about her experiences during the holocaust and finding God and forgiveness for her families murderers after the Holocaust. It is truly enlightening and if this isn't about "overcoming grief" then I don't know what is.
Happy Reading!
 
'Go Ask Alice', book about a 15 year old drug-user, based on an actual teen's diary. Shows the true side to the drug world and what it can do to people and what it does to so many people everyday.

'Cut' - Patricia McCormick , Fifteen-year-old Callie isn't speaking to anybody, not even to her therapist at Sea Pines, the "residential treatment facility" where her parents and doctor sent her after discovering that she cuts herself. As her story unfolds, Callie reluctantly become involved with the other "guests" at Sea Pines -- finding her voice and confronting the trauma that triggered her behavior.

'Crank'-Ellen Hopkins, Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina — she's fearless. Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul — her life.

'Private' series - Kate Brian, The protagonist goes through love, loss and lots of hard times in this book with the other characters and she tries hard to overcome all of it. It's a great and interesting book full of mystery, love, friendship, betrayel, and more.
 
'Go Ask Alice', book about a 15 year old drug-user, based on an actual teen's diary. Shows the true side to the drug world and what it can do to people and what it does to so many people everyday.

'Cut' - Patricia McCormick , Fifteen-year-old Callie isn't speaking to anybody, not even to her therapist at Sea Pines, the "residential treatment facility" where her parents and doctor sent her after discovering that she cuts herself. As her story unfolds, Callie reluctantly become involved with the other "guests" at Sea Pines -- finding her voice and confronting the trauma that triggered her behavior.

'Crank'-Ellen Hopkins, Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina — she's fearless. Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul — her life.

'Private' series - Kate Brian, The protagonist goes through love, loss and lots of hard times in this book with the other characters and she tries hard to overcome all of it. It's a great and interesting book full of mystery, love, friendship, betrayel, and more.
 
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Agelou, the first of her autobiograpical books.

"It Happened to Nancy: By An Anonymous Teenager" (with Beatrice Sparks, a doctor)... about a young teen who, at her first decision to 'go all the way,' contracted AIDs.

Fiction:
"The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan
"Ellen Foster" by Kaye Gibbon
"Breathing" by Ann Tyler
"The Shipping News" by Anne Proulx
"The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

...and I'm sure you'll get more titles to choose from. Good luck with all--
 
this is a fictional book

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen.

she just lost her father but the book isnt like way too focused on that.
 
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