Best ya novels of all time 20 ya books every adult should read. Books on mental health, a reading list compiled by toronto public health. Ive read plenty of books on depression fiction and non fiction but id never really looked at the ya category the only pieces of fiction i read as a teenager that dealt with any kind of mental illness tended to be anorexia or bullimia, as it was undergoing a lot of media attention at the time and seemed to be the next big problem in focus for. Books, especially ya novels, possess the ability to provide comfort to those who find representation of themselves in a character with a mental illness, as well as to. Ya involving mental health issues 2000present 361 books. When one thinks of narratives about mental illness, the characters described are no longer limited to the subversive and villainous. Ya books featuring characters with mental illness the seattle. I find reading to be a challenge sometimes, when im dealing with anxiety and depression. Aug 25, 2014 young adult fiction young adult novels have never shied away from tough subjects, and when it comes to mental health, theres a wealth of novels that treat the topic with the gravitas and sincerity necessary to open a larger dialogue. Growing up is hard for everyone, but for someone with a mental illness, it can seem impossible. Sometimes the right book given to someone at the right time can even save a life.
It was pure emotion and tied ya themes into the plot without it becoming. Although ya books on mental health definitely arent new, it seems like theres been an extra push in recent years among writers and readers to be more open about the struggles so many of us. One thing that can help make it a little easier are ya novels that deal with mental health issues. Like, you can tell when an author is including something as a oneoff plot point instead of giving it the love and care it needs. Ya books about mental illness and mental health book riot. A blend of fantasy and contemporary fiction, this book shows us that beauty can still exist despite your problems. Please read these 8 books if you have a chronic illness. Here are 16 of our favorite books that address mental health topics in their stories. Here i discuss some of the things to remember when writing about mental illness, and what ya books are currently out there.
A deeply hopeful ya novel about living with mental illness thats perfect for fans of girl in pieces. May is mental health awareness month and a great time to explore the many writers who write on diverse topics related to mental health and mental illness. If you want to better understand different mental health issues and how psychiatric treatment has evolved, the 16 nonfiction books about mental illness listed below are a. If you have already read a book about mental health, all of these books can be used for a book recommended to you by library staff. Todays teens are absolutely changing the discussion, and what used to be a silent suffering is being better understood and discussed. Books, especially ya novels, possess the ability to provide comfort to those who find representation of themselves in a character with a mental illness, as well as to educate readers who find the. May is mental health awareness month, and as society grows in its understanding of mental illnesses, their effects, and their treatments, were seeing more and more ya narratives that address these topics. These books will help you understand mental illness better. May 31, 2016 growing up is hard for everyone, but for someone with a mental illness, it can seem impossible. Why ya fiction needs to tell stories of mental illness. Books that feature characters dealing with mental illness.
The book deals with important themes like t reatment, improvements and relapses, daily struggles and overcoming the past. Why you should read these ya mental health books even if you have never dealt with a mental illness, chances are you know people who have them. Not the taboo subject it once was, mental illness offers rich territory to explore in books for kids and teens. Women and mental illness fiction and nonfiction, best eating disorder books, ya involving mental health issues 2000present, borderline. Glennon doyle melton brings readers through a variety of hilarious and touching life moments as she deals with recovering from alcohol addiction, motherhood, chronic illness, and being a. Exploring mental illness in ya literature rebecca alasdair. Haydus ya novel is about bea, a young girl juggling some crushes who also has obsessivecompulsive disorder. Young adult novels have never shied away from tough subjects, and when it comes to mental health, theres a wealth of novels that treat the topic with the gravitas and sincerity necessary to open a larger dialogue. They have a duty to portray illness accurately, as they must avoid harmfully romanticising dying.
This lyrical, profound contemporary novel takes an honest, mesmerizing look at the effects of grief and living with mental illness. Mental illness and mental wellbeing are topics that keep emerging in contemporary ya, and they keep being explored in worthwhile even lifechanging ways. Oct 14, 2015 peoples is the protagonist of the silver linings playbook, a touching and entertaining novel by matthew quick that captures the experience of someone living with a mental illness. On sunday, in honor of may being national mental health month, i posted my ten favorite fiction books about mental illness. There are books about addiction, eating disorders, depression, schizophrenia, and more, as experienced by the teen main characters. Add this to the list of ya books that were made into major motion pictures. Ya books featuring characters with mental illness by stepha89 a communitycreated list.
Heres a list of my favorite non fiction books on mental illness. Its may and with it comes mental health awareness month. May 01, 2020 as society grows in its understanding of mental illnesses, their effects and treatments, were seeing more ya narratives tackle these subjects. Ya books about mental illness seem to be in the majority, compared to their middlegrade and picture book counterparts. I felt that it was truly accurate, speaking from experience. Oct 02, 2018 over the last decade, the growth in ya books about mental illness is hard to overlook. Another list of young adult books, both older and newer titles, that address mental health. Nov 11, 20 if you have other favorite contemporary realistic ya titles that tackle mental illness and mental wellbeing from any period of time, feel free to leave the title and author in the comments.
May 24, 2016 ya mental health resources published may 24, 2016 you may be familiar with ya fiction books that deal with mental health issues, but in honor of it being mental health month, im highlighting mostly nonfiction ya resources with a few new or forthcoming fiction titles. Whether youre new on my blog or a regular here, you have to know that mental health is a topic very, very dear to my heart and, if i can scream about some young adult books dealing with mental health, i will do so very happily, so. A mix of fiction and non fiction, these books show what its. One of the best recent examples is john greens book turtles all the way down, which deals with anxiety and possible obsessivecompulsive disorder, though it. Illness in ya fiction do authors go too far, or not far. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Mental illness in young adult fiction affinity magazine.
Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best. The characters have goals, relationships and obstacles, just like everybody else. And yes, you may borrow and share this list as you see fit. A mix of fiction and non fiction, these books show what its like when your brain seems to be working against you. Mental illness is one of the most pressing health concerns of the modern age, and ya literature has a role to play in opening up the conversation on this longtabooed subject. Ya books featuring characters with mental illness by stepha89 a community created list. May 23, 2016 may is mental health awareness month and a great time to explore the many writers who write on diverse topics related to mental health and mental illness. And because mental illness and suicide are such popular themes in current ya fiction, we are forced to endure stereotypical portrayals of the disorders we live with everyday. For many of us book nerds, ya romances were what helped us start to learn. Reading can be a tremendous source of solace as we navigate the ups and downs of life. Promoting mental wellness with ya literature published february 2, 2016 there are no shortages of books for young adults that tackle mental illness. Ultimately, mental illness is more often that not, portrayed inaccurately in literature, specifically young adult fiction. There are a lot of depictions of mental illness out there that feel super disingenuous. Nine great books about living with mental illness the.
We compiled a list of ya books wed read which deal with include people with brain disorders and mental illnesses in a very real, accepting, and hopeful way, and hope this list is useful to you. Mental illness can sometimes make it challenging to find the concentration required to read, but these nine books are wor. The hub has focused on books for mental health awareness month and also written about the trend of suicide and depression in young adult literature in just the last year. Books with thoughtful portrayals of characters who encounter mental health issues can offer middle grade readers comfort, connection, and inspiration. Aug 16, 2015 ya authors now find themselves walking the fine line between fiction and reality. Ocd, eating disorders, depression, unrequited love, absent parents, and more. Ya mental health resources published may 24, 2016 you may be familiar with ya fiction books that deal with mental health issues, but in honor of it being mental health month, im highlighting mostly nonfiction ya resources with a few new or forthcoming fiction titles. Ya novels that get real about mental health hellogiggles. Nonfiction books can be really educational when it comes to learning about mental health conditions, but fiction books can help you connect with people and see what its actually like for people have. Books can bring comfort to those suffering from mental illness and increase awareness among family, friends, and peers. From beloved author and national book award finalist, deb caletti.
Oct 01, 2017 check out last years videos for mental illness awareness week check out my new channel dedicated to psychology and mental health h. Whether they are issues we are dealing with personally or issues of someone we know, these books provide us with insight, and at times, the strength to deal, empathize, and help. Ya books dealing with issues relating to mental health and clinical psychology, first published in 2000 or later. But, when handled appropriately, ya fiction can be an incredibly positive way of helping teens feel understood and listened to. One thing that can help make it a little easier are ya novels that deal with mental health. Best ya novels of all time 20 ya books every adult. If youre looking for books to help a teen whos struggling or to increase your own understanding of mental health issues, these books can get you started. I didnt know it then, but 20% of american youth are affected by some form of mental illness in their lifetime. These new novels face the complicated reality of mental. Using literature to confront the stigma of mental illness. Why ya fiction needs to tell stories of mental illness books for younger readers that include painful subjects like ocd, bipolar disorder and depression may.
In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the. This is a reality so many teens experience, but its not explored quite as much as it should be. Heres a list of my favorite nonfiction books on mental illness. May is mental health awareness month and we find that books can not only help. Over the last decade, the growth in ya books about mental illness is hard to overlook. There are many compelling, wellwritten narratives that focus on mental illness or otherwise feature teen characters struggling with and.
Theres no denying that mental illness in young people is a complex and sensitive topic. Jun 26, 2015 why ya fiction needs to tell stories of mental illness books for younger readers that include painful subjects like ocd, bipolar disorder and depression may be painful, but they are also essential. Such a great book surrounding ocd and mental illness. May 24, 2017 on sunday, in honor of may being national mental health month, i posted my ten favorite fiction books about mental illness. Below are some of my favorite books which offer a refreshing perspective on mental health conditions, breaking through the cultural, social, and political barriers that can keep people from speaking openly. From theme to style, there are a lot of exciting developments happening in the ya novels of mental illness. Nov 04, 2019 50 mustread ya books about mental illness. Whats more, empathy is listed along with comfort and decisionmaking as important components of strong leadership teaching skills. Mental health in ya lit and serving teen readers books. One of the best recent examples is john greens book turtles all the way down, which deals with anxiety and possible obsessivecompulsive disorder, though its only the former thats explicitly diagnosed. Mental illness in teen books has become more abundant in the last few years, in part because of how discussion of mental illness has grown more mainstream culturally.
Peoples is the protagonist of the silver linings playbook, a touching and entertaining novel by matthew quick that captures the experience of someone living with a mental illness. Rehabilitating sicklit one interpretation of mental illness. Young adult literature has been somewhat of a pioneer in the realm of representing mental illness because in so many ways, the ya genre was built around the idea of the issue book. May is mental health awareness month and we find that books can not only help us understand or sympathize, but can often help us talk about difficult topics. The following list of books about mental illness contains fiction, graphic novels, nonfiction, memoirs, biographies, and more, all books that broaden our understanding of mental illness from. Its so easy to misunderstand a mental illness, especially if you havent experienced the unique set of problems and worries that accompany it. For more, please see my recent blog post on ya novels of obsessivecompulsive disorder ocd at teen librarian.
May 14, 2014 the ya novel shows how mental illness can ricochet around a family, affecting everyone. Jun 20, 2016 with mental health issues on the rise, the importance of ya fiction on these topics cannot be undermined. During mental health month, try one of these kidrecommended books that tackle mental health in a way that is relatable to young people. These new novels face the complicated reality of mental illness. Its a mix of memoirs and psychology books, but i kept the list to books that i think would be accessible and interesting to nonpsychology majors. This list features very recent contemporary ya titles that have tackled mental illness in some capacity. Its always there fear and if you dont stay on top of it, youll drown. This entry was posted in books ive read, observations about life and tagged anxiety, depression, destigmatize, dissociative identity disorder, fiction, mental health, mental illness, novels about mental illness, suicide, young adult novels about mental illness. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Jan 29, 2019 we received a mix of answers, including childrens books, young adult and adult books. Teen books about depression to better understand the illness. Reading allowed me to escape, but it also showed me that i wasnt alone in my struggle. We compiled a list of ya books wed read which deal with include people with brain disorders and mental illnesses in a very real, accepting, and hopeful way, and hope this list is.
119 1240 1055 153 1427 159 26 1365 1251 742 88 126 716 238 516 1369 452 965 689 1115 89 1516 1469 1434 1065 1374 1536 559 1590 70 690 1257 740 1262 465 484 1089 1503 743 710 470 850 763 5 1158 93 808 878