Mental Health: Books for Teens

Channeling their own experiences, sixteen exceptional authors subvert mental health stereotypes in a powerful and uplifting collection of fiction. Through powerful prose, verse, and graphics, the characters in this anthology defy stereotypes as they remind readers that living with a mental health condition doesn't mean that you're defined by it.

Told in alternating voices, when Theodore Finch and Violet Markey meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school--both teetering on the edge--it's the beginning of an unlikely relationship, a journey to discover the "natural wonders" of the state of Indiana, and two teens' desperate desire to heal and save one another.

Leigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: when her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird. When she travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time, Leigh is determined to find her mother, the bird. In her search, she winds up chasing after ghosts, uncovering family secrets, and forging a new relationship with her grandparents.

Seventeen-year-old Ocean Wu moves to New York City to start college, but she defers her enrollment, keeping it a secret from her immigrant mother, and instead uses the time to deal with her ambivalence about her place in the world.

A captivating novel about mental illness that lingers long beyond the last page, Challenger Deep is a heartfelt tour de force. Caden Bosch pretends to join the school track team but spends his days walking for miles, absorbed by the thoughts in his head.

Nic Stone delivers a gripping romance about two teens: a certified genius living with a diagnosed mental disorder and a politician's son who is running from his own addiction and grief. Don't miss this gut punch of a novel about mental health, loss, and discovering you are worthy of love.

Clinically-depressed Darius Kellner, a high school sophomore, travels to Iran to meet his grandparents, but it is their next-door neighbor, Sohrab, who changes his life.

Secrets are revealed as OCD-afflicted Griffin grieves for his first love, Theo, who died in a drowning accident.

Ever since Deborah (Jung-Jin) Lee emigrated from South Korea to the United States, she's felt her otherness. Caught in limbo, with nowhere safe to go, Deb finds her mental health plummeting, resulting in a suicide attempt. But Deb is resilient and slowly heals with the help of art and self-care, guiding her to a deeper understanding of her heritage and herself. This stunning debut graphic memoir features page after page of gorgeous, evocative art.

A humorous account of a New York City teenager's battle with depression and his time spent in a psychiatric hospital.

After coming out as nonbinary, Ben must leave home and goes to live with a sister and her husband to finish the last year of high school.

Charlie is a freshman in high school, a wallflower, shy and introspective, and very intelligent. He deals with the usual teen problems, but also with the suicide of his best friend.

Whimsy is back in the hospital for treatment of clinical depression. When she meets a boy named Faerry, she recognizes they both have magic in the marrow of their bones. And when Faerry and his family move to the same street, the two start to realize that their lifelines may have twined and untwined many times before.

After leaving her life behind to go to college in New York, Marin must face the truth about the tragedy that happened in the final weeks of summer when her friend Mabel comes to visit.

Ariel Stone is the perfect college applicant until a failed Calculus quiz sends his grades into a tailspin that can only be halted by a handsome tutor, but adding a burgeoning romance to his other commitments may push Ariel past his limit.

Seventh-grader Millie has the best friends in the whole world: Florence, Claire, Gabby, and Rosie, but when Rosie dies in a car accident everything changes. Rocked by grief, the remaining four girls struggle to move on. Millie barely understands her normal pre-teen feelings, let alone the messy ones left behind by Rosie, so she outruns her emotions by throwing herself into a mystery: a cryptic notebook abandoned at her family's laundromat. Could the clues in the notebook be related to Rosie?

Ten-year-old Della can rely on her older sister, Suki, for anything, but when Suki attempts suicide, Della must seek help and speak out about the sexual abuse they've both suffered at the hands of their mother's boyfriend.

In the hospital where she is receiving treatment for anorexia, twelve-year-old Riley records her days in her journal--going to therapy, rediscovering her love of art, dealing with her rule-breaking roommate, and worrying about relapse once she returns home.

When twelve-year-old Zinnia Manning's older brother Gabriel is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it turns her family's world upside-down, especially since they are keeping the information private.

Finley Hart is sent to her grandparents' house for the summer, but her anxiety and overwhelmingly sad days continue until she escapes into her writings which soon turn mysteriously real and she realizes she must save this magical world in order to save herself.

Bullied and shamed her whole life for being fat, twelve-year-old Ellie finally gains the confidence to stand up for herself, with the help of some wonderful new allies.

Seventh-grader Frankie, who has various sensory disorders, is determined to find her missing best friend, Colette, before it is too late.

Outlines daily practices that promote physical, mental, and emotional health for young people making the transition to adulthood. The author covers practices such as journaling, exercise, healthy sleep habits, time management, and mindfulness, with brief discussions of scientific research showing the proven benefits of each practice.

Depression and mental illness don't discriminate. Even in the most picture-perfect life, confusion and turmoil are often lurking beneath the surface. For a teenager in a world where anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses are commonplace, life can sometimes feel impossible. Whether or not you or someone you love is suffering from any of these issues, it's important to be able to recognize the warning signs of mental illness and know where to turn for help.

In real teens' voices, this engaging book offers comfort and advice for young people dealing with their own mental health issues or those of a loved one. A compilation of true stories by young adults facing the challenges of anxiety and depression, the book features compelling first-person accounts of panic attacks, suicidal depression, and self-harm, among other topics. Each contributor brings a unique perspective to the discussion of mental illness, and the relatable tone helps readers connect with an issue of great relevance to their own lives.

The teen years are full of changes and challenges-especially in today's uncertain world. It's no wonder, then, that teens are feeling more anxious than ever. Grounded in the same evidence-based methods as the self-help hit, The Anxious Thoughts Workbook, this step-by-step guide just for teens offers fun, targeted activities to break free from the anxious, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts that feed anxiety and depression, and keep teens from reaching their goals.

Social anxiety is a serious-yet often overlooked-form of anxiety commonly experienced by teens. If left untreated, it can lead to a significantly increased risk of developing depression and even addiction in adulthood. In Social Anxiety Relief for Teens, Bridget Flynn Walker presents a five-step cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program to help teens gain confidence and stop living in fear of social situations.

Written by cognitive-behavioral therapist and stress-busting expert, Michael A. Tompkins, PhD, Stress Less teaches concrete skills for managing stress and anxiety, organized into "stress domains" such as family, friends, dating, school, and tech/media. And because stress doesn't go away when teens hit adulthood, Stress Less will help readers maintain balance and calm as they deal with the ups and downs of life in the months and years to come.