Empathetic YA Novels About Mental Health | Douglas County Libraries

by Shusterman, Neal

Book - 2015

Caden Bosch is on a ship that’s headed for the deepest point of the Marianas Trench. He is also a brilliant high school student whose friends are starting...Show more Caden Bosch is on a ship that’s headed for the deepest point of the Marianas Trench. He is also a brilliant high school student whose friends are starting to notice his odd behavior. Neal Shusterman is open about his son Brendan, the book's illustrator inspiring the novel. His compassion for the struggles of schizoaffective disorder comes through in this story of a high school student's psychotic break. Show less

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Chaos Theory

by Stone, Nic

Book - 2023

In this novel about mental illness and discovering you are worthy of love, an academically gifted senior with bipolar disorder meets a politician’s son st...Show more In this novel about mental illness and discovering you are worthy of love, an academically gifted senior with bipolar disorder meets a politician’s son struggling with grief and addiction. Shelbi and Andy's close friendship develops into more. Nic Stone shows us that young love can be hopeful and tender, but also messy and complicated. Show less

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Turtles All the Way Down

by Green, John

Book - 2017

Aza and her friend, Daisy, are trying to solve the mystery of a fugitive billionaire. Aza is trying to be a good daughter, friend, student, and maybe even...Show more Aza and her friend, Daisy, are trying to solve the mystery of a fugitive billionaire. Aza is trying to be a good daughter, friend, student, and maybe even detective, while trying to deal with the tightening spiral of her own thoughts as she struggles with anxiety and OCD. John Green has been open about his similar struggles, and he shares a realistic and sympathetic picture of anxiety and OCD through the metaphor of a spiral. Show less

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In Limbo

by Lee, Deb JJ

Book - 2023

A graphic memoir about a Korean-American girl’s coming of age. After her family emigrates from South Korea, Deb struggles to fit in. As high school pressu...Show more A graphic memoir about a Korean-American girl’s coming of age. After her family emigrates from South Korea, Deb struggles to fit in. As high school pressures ramp up and everything gets harder, she is caught in limbo and her mental health plummets. But through art and self-care, Deb gradually begins to recover and realize something that changes her perspective on her family, heritage, and herself. (Theme: Suicide) Show less

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For A Muse of Fire

by Heilig, Heidi

Book - 2018

The first installment of this fantasy trilogy follows Jetta, a teenager who uses forbidden magic to bind the souls of the recently departed to puppets. Bu...Show more The first installment of this fantasy trilogy follows Jetta, a teenager who uses forbidden magic to bind the souls of the recently departed to puppets. But seeing spirits is not the only thing that plagues Jetta; she also struggles with bipolar disorder. Heidi Heilig writes a main character that shares her own mental illness, and weaves a rich magical world inspired by Southeast Asia and colonial France. Show less

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Radio Silence

by Oseman, Alice

eAudiobook - 2017

Academically obsessed Frances meets Aled, the shy genius behind her favorite podcast. Their true friendship unlocks her ability to be herself, until the trust in their fragile friendship is broken when the podcast goes viral. (Theme: Depression) Academically obsessed Frances meets Aled, the shy genius behind her favorite podcast. Their true friendship unlocks her ability to be herself, until the trust in their fragile friendship is broken when the podcast goes viral. (Theme: Depression) Show less

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You Should See Me in A Crown

by Johnson, Leah

Book - 2020

When a scholarship falls through, Lis, who typically tries to blend in and fly under the radar due to her anxiety, decides to run for prom queen in an attempt to win the accompanying scholarship. When a scholarship falls through, Lis, who typically tries to blend in and fly under the radar due to her anxiety, decides to run for prom queen in an attempt to win the accompanying scholarship. Show less

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The Silence That Binds Us

by Ho, Joanna

Book - 2022

Maybelline Chen isn’t the daughter her Chinese Taiwanese American mother wants her to be, especially compared to her Princeton-bound brother Danny. But Da...Show more Maybelline Chen isn’t the daughter her Chinese Taiwanese American mother wants her to be, especially compared to her Princeton-bound brother Danny. But Danny secretly struggles with depression, and when he dies by suicide, May’s world is shattered. In the aftermath, May must fight against racist accusations and stereotypes, using her writing to take back the narrative. Show less

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Heartstopper

Volume 4

by Oseman, Alice

Book - 2021

Charlie and Nick are officially boyfriends, and Nick is beginning to worry that Charlie has an eating disorder. A beautiful story of young love, friendshi...Show more Charlie and Nick are officially boyfriends, and Nick is beginning to worry that Charlie has an eating disorder. A beautiful story of young love, friendship, and loyalty, "Heartstopper" explores how to be there for your friends and loved ones when they need you the most. Show less

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The Chandler Legacies

by Nazemian, Abdi

Book - 2022

At Chandler, an elite boarding school, five teens are brought together in a coveted writing group, where friendships are born and secrets are revealed. Th...Show more At Chandler, an elite boarding school, five teens are brought together in a coveted writing group, where friendships are born and secrets are revealed. They try to write their truths, but is truth enough to change the longstanding culture of bullying and abuse at Chandler? Show less

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