If you loved
My Girl
Film · 1991
What anchored you to My Girl was the way it tenderly explores how children navigate the heavy, complex weight of grief.
Start with the source
Adaptation
My Girl
Hong Jeong-eun · Series · 2005
Books on the same thread
Bleed for Me
Michael Robotham · Book · 2011
Like the somber atmosphere of My Girl, this story examines the impact of sudden loss and family trauma through the perspective of a young person trying to process reality.
Missing May (Scholastic Gold)
Cynthia Rylant · Book · 2013
If the poignant childhood perspective on death in My Girl resonated with you, you will find this story of a girl coping with her aunt's passing equally moving.
The Goldfinch
Donna Tartt · Book · 2013
This novel mirrors the emotional journey of Vada in My Girl by focusing on how a young protagonist reconciles with the sudden, life-altering grief of losing a parent.
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Shelby Van Pelt · Book · 2022
Much like the quiet contemplation of mortality in My Girl, this story explores how individuals find healing and connection while navigating the long-term shadow of personal loss.
Series on the same thread
Your Lie in April
Series · 2014
This series captures the same intersection of youth and bereavement seen in My Girl, illustrating how art and companionship help young people heal after a parent dies.
I Am Not a Robot
Series · 2017
The central theme of physical fragility in My Girl finds a parallel here, where a character's unique health struggles define their isolated world and eventual path to connection.
Endless Love
Hilal Saral · Series · 2015
Just as the complex family dynamics surrounding Vada in My Girl create a sense of longing, this drama highlights the social barriers that test young, budding romantic connections.
Clannad
Series · 2007
This story echoes the parent-child tension found in My Girl, showing how a young person struggles to find their way after the profound loss of a mother.
Podcasts on the same thread
Mobituaries with Mo Rocca
iHeartPodcasts and CBS News · Podcast · 2024
If Vada’s fascination with death in My Girl intrigued you, this series offers a thoughtful, wide-ranging exploration of mortality that balances historical legacy with personal human interest.
Ologies with Alie Ward
Alie Ward · Podcast · 2026
Much like the curiosity about the human condition displayed in My Girl, this podcast provides an accessible, inquisitive look at death and the science behind our existence.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is My Girl based on a true story?
The 1991 movie My Girl is a fictional story about a young girl named Vada Sultenfuss who is obsessed with death because her father runs a funeral parlor. The film explores her friendship with Thomas J. and her complex relationship with her father as he begins dating Shelly.
What is the plot of My Girl?
In My Girl, Vada Sultenfuss navigates life with her father, who operates a funeral parlor. She spends her summer taking a poetry class to impress her English teacher while leaning on her best friend, Thomas J., who is allergic to everything. Her life changes when her father hires Shelly.
Is there a television version of My Girl?
Yes, there is a television adaptation titled My Girl released in 2005. It shares the title with the 1991 film, which centers on the life of Vada Sultenfuss, her father, their funeral parlor business, and her close friendship with Thomas J. during a transformative summer.
Does the 1991 movie My Girl involve a poetry class?
Yes, in the 1991 film My Girl, the protagonist Vada Sultenfuss decides to join a poetry class over the summer. She does this specifically to impress her English teacher, whom she is in love with, while simultaneously dealing with her father's new relationship with a woman named Shelly.