Book Review of We Need to Talk About Divorce
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The Children’s Book Review
We Need to Talk About Divorce
Written by Kate Scharff
Illustrated by Annika LeLarge
Ages: 10+ | 64 Pages
Publisher: Macmillan/St. Martin’s Press (2025) | ISBN: 978-1684494484
What to Expect: Families, divorce, emotional learning, healing.
Written by a psychotherapist with personal and professional experience of how divorce affects children, this book offers a wealth of practical advice for young readers about what to expect and what they can do to cope with the situation.
When your parents decide to get divorced, it can mean a lot of complex changes and emotions for you as their kids. This book is designed to help you understand what divorce is, what it means for you, and how you can cope with all the changes it will mean for you.
From how to handle talking to your parents and family about your needs, to understanding that divorce is not your fault, this book is full of practical advice and validation for your feelings. Importantly, this is also a book about the positives that can come from divorce, helping you to remember that things are going to be okay. With this practical advice, you will be equipped and prepared for the changes ahead.
The book’s most valuable aspect is its consistent validation of the feelings and behaviors most children experience during a divorce. This reassures young readers that they are not alone, they are not bad children, and that what they are feeling is normal and acceptable. The dynamic cartoon artwork, which emphasizes dialogue, reinforces that communication is crucial to a successful family, even one experiencing divorce. By illustrating common scenes and experiences, the artwork also helps readers feel seen and heard, showing them that what they are going through is real and that they are not alone.
For any family experiencing divorce, We Need to Talk About Divorce is an invaluable resource.
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About the Author
Kate Scharff, LCSW-C has been an individual, couple and family psychotherapist for over 35 years. She is also a family mediator, divorce specialist, and international leader in the field of Collaborative Divorce. Kate regularly conducts multidisciplinary trainings for attorneys, mental health professionals, and other divorce professionals who want to help families to navigate this life transition with dignity and without going to court. She is the author of many articles and book chapters, and of four books, including Therapy Demystified (Marlowe and Co., 2004), and (with Lisa Herrick, PhD) Navigating Emotional Currents in Collaborative Divorce (ABA, 2010) and Mastering Crucial Moments in Separation and Divorce (ABA 2017). Kate’s latest book We Need to Talk About Divorce (for children aged 10 and up and their parents), was published by McMillan/St, Martin’s Press in March 2025. Kate maintains a private practice in a suburb of Washington, DC, where she lives with her family.
For more information, visit katescharff.com.
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