Chosen by Angela SchellenbergLicensed trauma therapist

Books about losing your mother

Q: What is the best book to start with for losing your mother?

Angela’s first pick on this shelf is Motherless Daughters by Hope Edelman. In her words: “The first book to name what happens to a girl who loses her mother, and how the loss travels with her into adulthood. A cornerstone.”

Q: What other books does Angela recommend for losing your mother?

Also on this shelf: The Rules of Inheritance by Claire Bidwell Smith; Conscious Grieving by Claire Bidwell Smith; Mother Hunger® by Kelly McDaniel. Each one has a short note above on who it helps.

Q: Is there a guided journal for losing your mother?

Yes. Still Her Daughter is Angela’s own guided journal for this loss ($14.99).

Books for the daughters who lost her too soon, or never quite had her.

For the mother who died, the mother who left, the mother who was here but not here. Each one names a different shape of mother grief.

4 books · each with Angela’s note on who it helps

See the books ↓Angela’s journal for this loss →

Mother Hunger® is a registered trademark and framework of Kelly McDaniel. Angela teaches this material as a trained Mother Hunger® Facilitator. Copyright Kelly McDaniel, Mother Hunger® and kellymcdanieltherapy.com, All rights reserved.

The 4 books

Motherless Daughters Hope Edelman Angela saysThe first book to name what happens to a girl who loses her mother, and how the loss travels with her into adulthood. A cornerstone. View on Amazon

The Rules of Inheritance Claire Bidwell Smith Angela saysClaire's memoir of losing both parents to cancer in her teens and twenties. Honest about the long arc of carrying it and the woman she became on the other side. View on Amazon

Conscious Grieving Claire Bidwell Smith Angela saysClaire's framework for grieving on purpose, a transformative approach that meets grief as something to move through with intention, not around. View on Amazon

Start hereMother Hunger® Kelly McDaniel Angela saysThe book that named what so many of us had been carrying since childhood. Kelly's framework of nurturance, protection, and guidance changed how I work. Read it first. View on Amazon

Angela’s journal for this lossStill Her DaughterA mother loss grief journal.$14.99See the journal →

Common questions

What is the best book to start with for losing your mother?

Angela’s first pick on this shelf is Motherless Daughters by Hope Edelman. In her words: “The first book to name what happens to a girl who loses her mother, and how the loss travels with her into adulthood. A cornerstone.”

What other books does Angela recommend for losing your mother?

Also on this shelf: The Rules of Inheritance by Claire Bidwell Smith; Conscious Grieving by Claire Bidwell Smith; Mother Hunger® by Kelly McDaniel. Each one has a short note above on who it helps.

Is there a guided journal for losing your mother?

Yes. Still Her Daughter is Angela’s own guided journal for this loss ($14.99).

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Grief support groups and hotlines

Hotlines, support groups, grief camps for kids, and online communities, sorted by type of loss.

See support organizations →