CCBC Booklists

CCBC booklist are compiled from books we have recommended in various editions of CCBC Choices. Most of these booklists are updated annually. You can also select books from one or more booklists to create a custom list, which can also include additional books from the CCBC-Recommended Book Search.

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All the Blues in the Sky

by Renee Watson

CCBC Review:

A slim, heartrending novel written in both free verse and prose chronicles the fresh grief of 13-year-old Sage (Black), whose best friend was killed in a hit-and-run car accident. Sage misses her best friend in every way. She longs to have a conversation with her, to sit with her at lunch, to hang out over the weekend, to laugh and dance together. Sage attends a grief group with other kids after school, where she confesses to feeling guilty: Her best friend had been on the way to celebrate Sage’s birthday when she was struck by the car. Sage also feels prickly resentment toward some of the others in group, whose loved ones’ deaths were anticipated due to illness; unlike Sage, those kids had a chance to say goodbye. Sage forms tentative friendships—though she is reluctant to call it that—with two girls who also experienced sudden losses. They offer Sage empathy and connection when she lets her guard down. Despite her resistance, Sage finds that being honest about her raw emotions helps, and she realizes that no matter the circumstances, no one is ever truly ready for loss. With the help of her group, family members, and others, Sage takes a step toward healing, finally revealing the name of her best friend toward the story’s end as she finds a way to remember and celebrate her. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center

CCBC Age Recommendation: 10-14
Age Range: Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10) Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13) Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format: Novel
Subjects: African Americans Death and Dying Friendship Grief and Loss
Diversity subject: Black/African
On CCBC Booklist: Great Middle School Reads

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 182
ISBN: 9781547605897
CCBC Location: Fiction, Watson

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