Recommended Books & Resources
Recommended Books & Resources
The materials on this page are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Viewing or using this page does not create an attorney–client relationship. For advice about your specific situation, please consult an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
This page is meant to be a helpful guide through difficult terrain. If you find these hand-picked books useful and buy one using the links, I may receive a small commission—thanks for helping us continue this resource without costing you anything extra!
Child Custody & Resistance / Refusal Behavior
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- Divorce Poison — Richard A. Warshak, Ph.D.
Recognize and respond to parental alienation; practical strategies and scripts for hostile comments.
- Overcoming the Co-Parenting Trap — John A. Moran, Ph.D.; Tyler & Matthew Sullivan, Ph.D.
Tools for parents facing resistance/refusal at parenting-time transitions; calm, structured responses.
- Someone Said Parental Alienation — Jean Mercer, Ph.D.
Clarifies when “alienation” is misapplied and how to differentiate manipulation from trauma-based refusal.
- Parental Alienation and Family Reunification (eds. Pearl S. Berman & Ethan M. Weisinger)
Current research, approaches, and court-adjacent practices for reunification and high-conflict cases.
- Parental Alienation: Science and Law — Demosthenes Lorandos et al.
Evidence-focused legal/clinical analysis, expert standards, and frameworks for evaluating refusal.
Emotional Healing & Resilience
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- Getting Past Your Breakup — Susan J. Elliott, JD, M.Ed.
Step-by-step recovery plan to rebuild identity and routines after separation.
- Crazy Time: Surviving Divorce and Building a New Life — Abigail Trafford
Normalizes the emotional roller coaster and offers perspective on recovery phases.
- The Breakup Bible — Rachel Sussman, LCSW
Practical tools for self-awareness, boundaries, and pattern-breaking.
- When Things Fall Apart — Pema Chödrön
Compassionate guidance for sitting with pain and finding growth in uncertainty.
Attachment Trauma & Healing
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- Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment — Amir Levine & Rachel Heller
Understand anxious/avoidant/secure patterns and how they show up post-divorce.
- Building the Bonds of Attachment — Daniel A. Hughes
Therapeutic roadmap (PACE/attachment-focused) for repairing disruptions in children.
- The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
How trauma is held in the body and diverse, evidence-based paths to healing.
Financial Recovery During/After Divorce
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- The Financially Smart Divorce — Carol Ann Wilson
Decisions, taxes, and future planning to protect your financial footing.
- I Will Teach You to Be Rich — Ramit Sethi
Hands-on personal-finance systems to rebuild independence and cash flow.
High-Conflict Communication
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- BIFF for Co-Parent Communication — Bill Eddy
“Brief, Informative, Friendly, Firm” method to de-escalate and stay solution-focused.
Books for Children (by age)
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These books can help children name feelings and feel less alone. We recommend parents preview selections first and, when possible, read and discuss together. In high-conflict, trauma, or abuse contexts, consider consulting a licensed clinician; books support coping but aren’t a substitute for professional care.
Ages ~3–6 / Early Childhood
- Why Do Families Change?: Our First Talk About Separation and Divorce — Dr. Jillian Roberts
Gentle, simple language that invites kids to share feelings and questions.
Ages ~4–8 / Early Elementary
- Always Mom, Forever Dad — Joanna Rowland
Reassures children of constant parental love across two homes.
- Here and There — Tamara Ellis Smith
Validates mixed feelings about living in different places while emphasizing stability and care.
- Dinosaurs Divorce: A Guide for Changing Families — Laurie Krasny Brown & Marc Brown
Kid-friendly A-to-Z on common divorce questions and changes.
Ages ~8–12 / Upper Elementary–Tweens
- Getting Through My Parents’ Divorce — Amy J. L. Baker, Ph.D.; Katherine C. Andre, Ph.D.
Workbook with activities for loyalty conflicts, big feelings, and coping skills.
- A Smart Girl’s Guide to Her Parents’ Divorce — Nancy Holyoke (American Girl)
Pragmatic, reassuring guidance tailored to tween girls.
- Mom’s House, Dad’s House for Kids — Isolina Ricci, Ph.D.
Skills and checklists to feel “at home” in one home or two.
Books for Teens
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- The Divorce Helpbook for Teens — Cynthia MacGregor
Straight talk, coping strategies, and real-life Q&A for teens.
- Now What Do I Do? — Lynn Cassella-Kapusinski
Activity-based workbook to process anger, guilt, and shifting family roles.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Links on this page may be affiliate links. This page is informational only and is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship.
