And when a former friend confronts Mel with the truth about the way their relationship ended, deeply buried secrets threaten to come out and upend her shaky equilibrium. Remembering sucks and being alive—well, what’s up with that? Something bad must have happened. When he was ten, Bo claimed to have witnessed the Titanic hit an iceberg, and at fifteen, he found himself on a Civil War battlefield, horrified by the bodies surrounding him. Matt hasn’t eaten in days. Evie Thomas is not who she used to be. Adam immediately knows that he has to save Robyn, must save Robyn, or die trying. Challenger Deep, 2015 young adult novel by Neal Shusterman. Almost all books about mental health in YA literature feature the same illnesses: depression and anxiety. Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. Once she had a best friend, a happy home and a loving grandmother living nearby. Thirty-three writers, athletes, and artists offer essays, lists, comics, and illustrations that explore their personal experiences with mental illness, how we do and do not talk about mental health, help for better understanding how every person’s brain is wired differently, and what, exactly, might make someone crazy. In one instant each of these young people decided enough was enough. I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame. Three years since my best friend, Sarah, was killed in a bathroom stall during the mass shooting. But even the strength of their love isn’t enough to help Sofía escape her deep depression. I remember turning to music when I was a boy. The books listed below center on teens from a multitude of socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds; religious beliefs; and sexual and gender identities. Wiping the slate clean sounds like a pretty good choice to him. They’re curious about all sorts of things, and if their parents and teachers aren’t willing or able to give them the answers they seek, they’ll hop straight online and search them out themselves. But for Remy, having everything comes at a price. With Owen’s help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends. What stuff? 16-year-old Vicky Cruz wakes up in a hospital’s mental ward after a failed suicide attempt. YA novels are a great way to raise awareness and kick-start the conversation on this important issue. Exactly. We have a huge problem with teen suicides in Northland and it’s been kept so hush-hush when what we need is more understanding and support instead. Craig’s suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. His name is Olly. Addicts who have hit rock bottom and been stuck together in rehab to face their problems, face sobriety, and face themselves. I am a 26-year-old Australian writer and book hoarder, who loves dogs and coffee, and has a tendency of staying up all night! "Mental Illness in Young Adult Literature is an excellent overview of common mental health struggles that many readers begin to face in their teen years and a solid introduction to the literature that addresses those same struggles. Mental Health Matters: Addressing Mental Illness in Young Adult Fiction reVieW Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern. Without it I’m afraid to think what I would have done. Even if your best friend is worshipped by mountain lions…. His mom is a struggling waitress held together by a thin layer of cigarette smoke. Books can teach us all sorts of things when done right, and I think this is one of the really important ones (hence the post). *also, you fall in love, but not with Lukas. This number is staggering. And somewhere between 1 and 12, realize that when your parent’s an alcoholic, there’s no such thing as “normal.” Things…get a little crazy after that. Based on the books and articles I’ve read on this subject, and my own (somewhat limited) writing experience, the following list details some of the important things writers … I think books are a great way of reaching young people in distress, showing them they’re not alone, and giving them hope. YA novels are a great way to raise awareness and kick-start the conversation on this important issue. But talking openly about mental health in YA books has seen an increase as the category of books has grown, too. While one person may think a particular story hasn’t “handled” this subject right, another may find it matches their own experiences closely. It takes aim at ending the shame of mental illness. They grabbed the blade, the bottle, the gun—and tried to end it all. Sixteen-year-old Grace is in a race against time—and in a race for her life—even if she doesn’t realize it yet…. They were for my eyes only. But keeping quiet might be worse. I am that girl. 29 YA Books About Mental Health That Actually Nail It. “Dead girl walking,” the boys say in the halls. Big responsibility for writers too! Writers have a lot of power and this is a huge power. Families’ Attitudes and Mental Illness Literature Review By Debbie Peterson, Mental Health Foundation January 2005 Introduction “People with serious mental illness are not ill in isolation. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. All Rights Reserved. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. Now they have a second chance, and just maybe, with each other’s help, they can find their way to a better life—but only if they’re strong and can fight the demons that brought them here in the first place. Mental Illness written correctly can be a big part of the story and really help readers to learn empathy for those in their lives struggling with these things (or even for themselves!). (World Suicide Prevention Day was September 10) To honor this, my Classroom Library display and all my book talks for the month focus on mental illness, wellness, ways the brain works, and the effects of trauma as told in young adult literature. Izzy and Connor meet as summer school counsellors and as Izzy spirals into the highs and lows of bipolar, the story is told in chapters alternating between Izzy’s and Connor’s voices. Aza is trying. One of them will attempt suicide. But this makes him distant. Sounds like I need to take the time to read it . But they’ll all have to deal with themselves—and one another—if they want to learn how to live. Like that time the roller coaster jumped off its tracks. Amid the thrill of victory, Lukas will finally realize you are the girl of his dreams. Over the last decade, the growth in YA books about mental illness is hard to overlook. yes. 3. She’s also just been released from a residential psychiatric program–the kind for the worst, most difficult-to-cure cases; the kind that Adam and his fellow support group members will do anything to avoid joining. But then she meets Jordy, an aspiring tennis star who wants to help her break her unlucky streak. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. You’re not alone. This is the story of a girl whose armor against anxiety becomes artillery against herself as she battles on both sides of a lose-lose war in a struggle with anorexia. He makes her feel almost normal. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. I don’t know what will be worse: the guilt of staying silent or the consequences of speaking up…. Jonah never thought a girl like Vivi would come along. At seventeen she’s already lost more than most people lose in a lifetime. And as she spirals out of control, Willa can feel Remy spinning right out of her grasp. It’s all like a game to him. Even though Aysel and Roman have nothing in common, they slowly start to fill in each other’s broken lives. If you’re writing a YA book, or thinking about writing one, that has a character(s) grappling with mental illness of some variety, good on you! You scribble down the address. Best of luck with your WIP!! I don’t like God very much. But despite her feelings for Beck, Bea can’t stop thinking about someone else: a guy who is gorgeous and magnetic…and has no idea Bea even exists. But she’s learned how to forget. And when a crazy girl meets an even crazier town, only two things are certain: Anything can happen and no one is safe. But acting like a superhero doesn’t make you bulletproof…. Writing in a dictionary format, Macy explains the world in her own terms—complete with gritty characters and outrageous endeavors. 7. Didn’t she imagine him? Apparently he doesn’t like me very much either. But now that her sense of self has been challenged, she must rebuild her life, a process that includes redefining her relationship with her family and navigating first love with the boy who was at the diner with her during the shoot-out. It’s not really about mental illness, but I think it showcases how the mind is a huge part of the story *tries to sidestep spoilers. Trigger Warning: This book features mental illness stigma, self-harm, several suicide attempts, and suicide. Every new scar hardens Charlie’s heart just a little more, yet it still hurts so much. Now her father’s sober (again) and Kira is returning home, determined to get her life back to normal…exactly as it was before she was sent away. I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through. From the point of view of somebody with a mental illness. It’s certainly not an easy thing to read about (or write about! The hunger clears his mind, keeps him sharp—and he needs to be as sharp as possible if he’s going to find out just how Tariq and his band of high school bullies drove his sister, Maya, away. She’s got more pressing problems: her mom can’t move off the couch, her dad’s in prison, her brother’s been kidnapped by Child Protective Services, and now her best friend isn’t speaking to her. With mental illness on the rise for adolescents, our expert panel discusses how mental health issues and treatment are portrayed in Young Adult (YA) literature and other media and why it so important to consider the messages they promote. In the years that followed, he would regularly smoke pot, do cocaine and Ecstasy, and develop addictions to crystal meth and heroin. Audrey can’t leave the house. It is a responsibility nobody should take lightly. Neither of them expected a summer like this…a summer that would rewrite their futures. But this isn’t a choice, it’s a compulsion. Or your mother, who has nothing left to give you. You don’t have to think about your father and the river. Thank you Not only do books reach young people in distress, as you say, but if done well they can help those who have not experienced mental illness better understand those who do! She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts. Her stuff. And Evie, struggling to find her way in a new city where kids aren’t friendly and the terrain is as unfamiliar as her name, wonders who she is. Sixteen-year-old Maguire knows the universe is against her. Today, Hannah of Sprinkled With Words is stopping by with a guest post to talk about the clichés of mental illness she's tired of seeing in YA novels. Find courage. Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. We are seventeen and shattered and still dancing. But once she discovers a website with a section called Suicide Partners, Aysel’s convinced she’s found her solution: a teen boy with the username FrozenRobot (aka Roman) who’s haunted by a family tragedy is looking for a partner. She’s not prepared for normal. U.S. Department of Health and Human services. When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. And as Bo becomes more and more determined to save Sofía, he must decide whether to face his demons head-on or succumb to a psychosis that will let him be with the girl he loves. The instant Adam Spencer Ross meets Robyn Plummer in his Young Adult OCD Support Group, he is hopelessly, desperately drawn to her. Was Olga really what she seemed? When Imogen, a sixteen-year-old black belt in Tae Kwon Do, freezes during a holdup at a local diner, the gunman is shot and killed by the police, and she blames herself for his death. Now Sarah’s parents are publishing a book about her, so this might be my last chance to set the record straight…but I’m not the only survivor with a story to tell about what did—and didn’t—happen that day. Research is key and I am happy to see you supplied it. I wanted to review On a Scale of One to Ten by Ceylan Scott for Mental Illness in YA Month as it was an #OwnVoices novel for borderline personality disorder (BPD). But Matt doesn’t realize there are many kinds of hunger…and he isn’t in control of all of them. This, too, is a reality of teen life today. None of them wants to confront the truths about their pasts. As she tries to make a place for herself, she discovers dark secrets that would terrify any normal soul. And Conner, outwardly, has the perfect life. Weighing the pain and the joy that surrounds him, Henry is left with the ultimate choice: push the button and save the planet and everyone on it…or let the world—and his pain—be destroyed forever. © Copyright 2017-2021 Rebecca Alasdair. I know because I was with her when she died. But it’s not long before Julia discovers that Olga might not have been as perfect as everyone thought. And with Dickinson’s poetry as their guide, both girls must conquer their personal demons to ever be happy. One of the pieces of advice I’ve come across from writers who have themselves experienced mental illness is (1) do your research, but (2) remember that not everyone’s experience is the same. He has no plans for college and will probably end up folding men’s shirts for a living. And being able to recognise the signs in others is so important. 5. You make an excellent point of mentioning treatment, which is complex in its own right. But dig a little deeper and find a boy who is in constant battle with his parents, his life, himself. I stare right back. There are books about addiction, eating disorders, depression, schizophrenia, and more, as experienced by the teen main characters. In turn, Bo provides comfort to Sofía, who lost her mother and two sisters at a very young age. But Alex is used to being crazy. HMH Books, 2013. The Museum of Intangible Things by Wendy Wunder. Ambitious Lisa desperately wants to get into the second-best psychology program for college (she’s being realistic). Her creative writing teacher has always told her she has a special talent. Both exhilarating and wrenching, Hilary T. Smith’s debut novel captures the messy glory of being alive, as seventeen-year-old Kiri Byrd discovers love, loss, chaos, and murder woven into a summer of music, madness, piercing heartbreak, and intoxicating joy. But, as Lisa learns more about Sol and he and Clark grow closer and closer, the walls they’ve built around themselves start to collapse and their friendships threaten to do the same. If only Mike will listen. Perfect: A Novel by Rachel Joyce. My disease is as rare as it is famous. Our 2020 Prezi Staff Picks: Celebrating a year of incredible Prezi videos From heart-wrenching and honest to lighthearted and funny, these 12 books accurately portray mental illness and help break the stigma that envelops our world today. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is also sometimes considered an anxiety disorder. Readers will be drawn into this convincing portrait of a vivacious young person who is on a path to discovering that taking on responsibility sometimes means finding the best way to ask for help. This year, she’s the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Of course, I want a happy ending, but love like that is pretty fairy tale! Her latest struggle is balancing her growing feelings in a new relationship with her instinct to keep everyone at arm’s length. We have messy, throbbing hearts, and we are stronger than anyone could ever know…. The first half of the book leaves the audience questioning if the plot is real, but it ends up being about mental illnesses. passionate?—to different people. Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. One impossible heist. He’s losing his sense of direction, and he feels like he’s a mess. Vivi didn’t know Jonah would light up her world. Marry Robyn Plummer. Determined to “fix” Sol, Lisa steps into his world, along with her charming boyfriend, Clark, and soon the three form an unexpected bond. However, since it wasn’t so long ago I was a teenager myself, I am very aware of the fact that today’s youth don’t take well to having the curtains drawn over their eyes. This list is comprised of roughly one-third POC characters; this is not representative of the larger landscape of teens of color who live with mental challenges. Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it! His grandmother is slowly losing herself to Alzheimer’s. At Berkshire, Bo falls in love with Sofía, a quiet girl with a tragic past and the superpower of invisibility. And as she grieves, she must try to reconcile the fact that on the same day she kissed her best friend and longtime secret crush, Axel, her mother was taking her own life. A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. “Tell us your secret,” the girls whisper, one toilet to another. And it’s all pretty much random. He makes her feel like she could fall in love again. Andrew Winston Winters is at war with himself. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. It’s the end of the world. I didn’t say anything then, and people got hurt because of it. If having a family like that wasn’t bad enough, the local eccentric at the edge of town decided one night to open up all the cages of his exotic zoo—lions, cheetahs, tigers—and then shoot himself dead. With stories and honesty, kindness and hard work, they push her to reconsider her life before Lakeview, and offer her an acceptance she’s never had. When Kira’s father enters rehab, she’s forced to leave everything behind—her home, her best friends, her boyfriend…everything she loves. Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets by Evan Roskos. Caden Bosch is a brilliant high school student whose friends are starting to notice his odd behavior. Willa Parker, 646th and least-popular resident of What Cheer, Iowa, is headed east to start a new life. Caden Bosch is designated the ship’s artist in residence to document the journey with images. HE’S the guy you want at your party. For the first time in his life, he has the power to make a difference in someone else’s life—or ruin it forever. the NCTE, dedicated their fall 2018 issue to mental illness in young adult literature. The ability to see things he shouldn’t be able to see. Aimee is a social disaster. *Note: I haven’t read most of the books listed above, so can’t really speak as to whether they give a good representation of mental illness. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to? You get on your bike and go. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn’t die with Ingrid. Dr. Nazarenko has led Laila to believe that she must choose between perfection and sanity—but rejecting her all-powerful mentor may be the only way for Laila to thrive. She may not have them. A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. You bring up an interesting point here: mental illness rep in genres other than contemporary. In Makersville, Indiana, people know all about Ronney—he’s from that mixed-race family with the dad who tried to kill himself, the pill-popping mom, and the genius kid sister. There’s so much good information out there these days, and it’s exciting yet terrifying to work at converting it into a form that is interesting and engaging for people of all ages (hint hint – BOOKS!). That pisses me off – no matter what it’s supposed to cure. Robyn has an hypnotic voice, blue eyes the shade of an angry sky, and ravishing beauty that makes Adam’s insides ache. EXAMPLES: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson | Paperweight by Meg Hatson | A Trick of the Light by Lois Metzger | Big Fat Disaster by Beth Fehlbaum. But this increasingly educated society was eager to separate fiction from fact. When you buy through these links, Book Riot may earn a commission. Mental Health in YA Literature ~ Part II ... We can find so many examples in literature, both old and new, of this root of a problem that has caused so much mental distress. Her once lively father has become depressed and quiet. But Henry is a scientist first, and facing the question thoroughly and logically, he begins to look for pros and cons: in the bully who is his perpetual one-night stand, in the best friend who betrayed him, in the brilliant and mysterious boy who walked into the wrong class. Then her brother’s friend Linus stumbles into her life. When it seems Morgan can’t hold her breath any longer, a new boy moves in next door. “Sick lit” is a sub-genre of YA literature that deals with illnesses both physical and mental. Go figure. Holly says she’s chasing Corey’s killer, chasing revenge. His stomach stabs and twists inside, pleading for a meal, but Matt won’t give in. Now, everything is different. With his friendly, orange-slice smile and his funny notes, he starts to entice Audrey out again—well, Starbucks is a start. Millions of people are going through similar things. Matt decides to infiltrate Tariq’s life, then use his powers to uncover what happened to Maya. Some representations are better than others, but it’s great to see more and more getting their messages out there! Things you earnestly believe will happen while your parents are away: 1. But that’s not all that has changed. Her family has been forced to move to a new place and change their identities. Six dangerous outcasts. Portrayals of Mental Illness in Literature, From Tennyson to Today. must-read YA books about mental health. Leigh, who is half Asian and half white, travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time. With the aid of a not-so-secret admirer as well as a growing sense of self-confidence, she faces the challenges of caring for herself and her ball-of-charm younger brother, all while attempting to lead the life of a normal pre-teen. He believes that she’s stuck somewhere in time—that he somehow left her in the past, and that now it’s his job to save her. For being aware that mental illness is a big part of life for people in my community as well as in the world in general, I haven’t thought about it much in the extent of books. Leigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: When her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird. It doesn’t work that way! When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit. In an emotionally taut novel with a richly diverse cast of characters, readers will relish in the poetry of Emily Dickinson and be completely swept up in the turmoil of two girls grappling with demons beyond their control. Based on the books and articles I’ve read on this subject, and my own (somewhat limited) writing experience, the following list details some of the important things writers must consider when writing about mental illness: A mood disorder is a condition that disturbs a person’s mood to the point where it impacts their ability to function day-to-day. You and your best friend/bandmate Lukas will win Battle of the Bands. With a head plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly, violet dresses, Hanna’s tired of being the outcast, the weird girl, the freak. And Henry is still dealing with the grief of his boyfriend’s suicide last year. It’s always been there, in part because writing about adolescents in any capacity means exploring a social group that is a cocktail of hormones that causes them tremendous physical, emotional, intellectual, and mental changes in a short time frame. In an unflinching story about new love, old wounds, and forces beyond our control, two teens find that when you collide with the right person at just the right time, it will change you forever. Supplied it all the time to give up Griffin ’ s already lost more than what most teens ever to., as experienced by the teen main characters of honor, make rich... Struggle is balancing her growing feelings in a realistic and non-glorified way ''... Have nothing in common, they slowly start to fill in each other, Griffin ’ s,. Their former self Bishop, 2015 novel by Neal Shusterman, Carla take. White, travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the time... 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