Liam is the boy, lying in the hospital, in grave condition, a bullet lodged in his head. Otto is his father, a commercial artist whose marriage has collapsed in the wake of the disaster. The Book of Otto and Liam is a brave novel that taps directly into the vein of a uniquely American tragedy: the school shooting. We know these grotesque and sorrowful events too well. From the irredeemable act of the shooter to the anger and devastation of the victims’ families, Paul Griner has managed to make an amazing, incredibly powerful book, one that is like no other. Especially for things like grief and trauma, novels can be helpful because they show that there is no one way to grieve or heal. There is no “right” way, and grief and trauma and the subsequent healing can look different for everybody. What novels can do, then, is provide companionship and examples. They can be a quiet reminder that you’re not alone, and the stories can help provide hope. If you’re looking for some novels about grief or recovering from trauma, here is a list of some YA and adult books that I think capture an array of journeys.
