top of page
Search
  • mollyfennig

Mental Health in YA Literature

I recently finished my latest book, Starvation, which is about a teenage wrestler with an eating disorder. There were multiple reasons for writing the book. For one, one of my high school friends struggled with an eating disorder and hearing how hard her recovery was made me start looking into the process. Additionally, I am studying neuroscience and clinical psychology to go into the field so what better than to create a book with my two loves, writing and mental health. This fall I will be co-president of my school’s mental health advocacy group which has made me realize the importance of making mental health information available in different forms, especially for younger readers who may not even know they have a mental illness until they read about someone going through something similar.

In my clinical psych class I was astounded to learn that boys make up 1:9 to 1:3 of anorexia patients. And still I have yet to find a YA book about a boy with anorexia. (I am, however, pleasantly surprised by the recent increase in mental health books, with both male and female protagonists, especially as it helps destigmatize disorders and start important conversations.)

On that note, here are some books that are consistently referenced as some of the best YA mental health books, that are said to accurately describe what it feels like to have the given disorder. I, personally had some issues with some of the books, but loved others. Wintergirls, for example, really helped me understand some of the thought processes behind anorexia. Also It’s Kind of a Funny Story and Will Grayson, Will Grayson are two of my favorites. (But check them out for yourself and comment your opinions below!)

Anxiety

Turtles All the Way Down

51f11qtfyQL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_

Finding Audrey – social anxiety

23305614

Every Last Word – OCD

23341894

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B – OCD

UnlikelyHero

Highly Illogical Behavior – agoraphobia

26109391

Eating disorders

Wintergirls

91vllSH8oUL

The Downside of Being Charlie

11380801

Paperweight

41Mn4ARxjRL._SX330_BO1,204,203,200_

Trauma/PTSD

Speak

439288

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

61KNHXmOrvL

The Sea of Tranquility

1476730946

Depression

It’s Kind of a Funny Story

514hIkoe-JL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_

The Memory of Light

515HONjQLFL._SX340_BO1,204,203,200_

13 Reasons Why

51syyO7qB5L._SX324_BO1,204,203,200_

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

220px-WillGrayson

All the Bright Places

18460392

Fans of the Impossible Life

51Ztyjru0tL._SX328_BO1,204,203,200_

Hold Still

9780142416945

Bipolar

When We Collided

5151lEJ-pnL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_

Psychosis/delusions

Mosquitoland

51glmDxPZpL._SX330_BO1,204,203,200_

A World Without You

27272505

Schizophrenia

Made You Up

51tkitIjYAL._SX328_BO1,204,203,200_

Schizo

51Kpj9jbStL._SX330_BO1,204,203,200_

If you liked this post, subscribe to my blog (on the right) or share it on social media. 

Feel free to leave your thoughts/suggestions/comments below or contact me!

6 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page