Teen Book List: Mental Health
Teen book lists
***Scroll past the book lists for a list of both local and/or 24/7 mental health resources***
This Is My Brain in Love by ISBN: 9780316423823Publication Date: 2020-04-14Told in dual narrative, This Is My Brain in Love is a stunning YA contemporary romance, exploring mental health, race and, ultimately, self-acceptance, for fans of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter and Emergency Contact. Jocelyn Wu has just three wishes for her junior year: To make it through without dying of boredom, to direct a short film with her BFF Priya Venkatram, and to get at least two months into the year without being compared to or confused with Peggy Chang, the only other Chinese girl in her grade. Will Domenici has two goals: to find a paying summer internship, and to prove he has what it takes to become an editor on his school paper. Then Jocelyn's father tells her their family restaurant may be going under, and all wishes are off. Because her dad has the marketing skills of a dumpling, it's up to Jocelyn and her unlikely new employee, Will, to bring A-Plus Chinese Garden into the 21st century (or, at least, to Facebook). What starts off as a rocky partnership soon grows into something more. But family prejudices and the uncertain future of A-Plus threaten to keep Will and Jocelyn apart. It will take everything they have and more, to save the family restaurant and their budding romance.
Darius the Great Is Not Okay by ISBN: 9780525552963Publication Date: 2018-08-28Darius Kellner speaks better Klingon than Farsi, and he knows more about Hobbit social cues than Persian ones. He's about to take his first-ever trip to Iran, and it's pretty overwhelming-especially when he's also dealing with clinical depression, a disapproving dad, and a chronically anemic social life. In Iran, he gets to know his ailing but still formidable grandfather, his loving grandmother, and the rest of his mom's family for the first time. And he meets Sohrab, the boy next door who changes everything. Sohrab makes sure people speak English so Darius can understand what's going on. He gets Darius an Iranian National Football Team jersey that makes him feel like a True Persian for the first time. And he understand that sometimes, best friends don't have to talk. Darius has never had a true friend before, but now he's spending his days with Sohrab playing soccer, eating rosewater ice cream, and sitting together for hours in their special place, a rooftop overlooking the Yazdi skyline. Sohrab calls him Darioush-the original Persian version of his name-and Darius has never felt more like himself than he does now that he's Darioush to Sohrab. When it's time to go home to America, he'll have to find a way to be Darioush on his own.
The Lonely Dead by ISBN: 9781250157577Publication Date: 2019-01-29For seventeen-year-old Adele Vanderarde, the dead aren't really dead. She can see them and even talk to them. When Adele realizes her ex-friend Tori is really a murder victim, she takes it upon herself to help Tori find her killer--before the killer finds Adele--or before Adele is charged with the murder. Master mystery-writer April Henry weaves another edge-of-your-seat murder mystery--this time with a chilling paranormal twist. A Christy Ottaviano Book
The Weight of Our Sky by ISBN: 9781534426085Publication Date: 2019-02-05A music loving teen with OCD does everything she can to find her way back to her mother during the historic race riots in 1969 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in this heart-pounding literary debut. Melati Ahmad looks like your typical movie-going, Beatles-obsessed sixteen-year-old. Unlike most other sixteen-year-olds though, Mel also believes that she harbors a djinn inside her, one who threatens her with horrific images of her mother's death unless she adheres to an elaborate ritual of counting and tapping to keep him satisfied. A trip to the movies after school turns into a nightmare when the city erupts into violent race riots between the Chinese and the Malay. When gangsters come into the theater and hold movie-goers hostage, Mel, a Malay, is saved by a Chinese woman, but has to leave her best friend behind to die. On their journey through town, Mel sees for herself the devastation caused by the riots. In her village, a neighbor tells her that her mother, a nurse, was called in to help with the many bodies piling up at the hospital. Mel must survive on her own, with the help of a few kind strangers, until she finds her mother. But the djinn in her mind threatens her ability to cope.
How It Feels to Float by ISBN: 9780525554295Publication Date: 2019-05-07Biz knows how to float. She has her people, her posse, her mom and the twins. She has Grace. And she has her dad, who tells her about the little kid she was, and who shouldn't be here but is. So Biz doesn't tell anyone anything. Not about her dark, runaway thoughts, not about kissing Grace or noticing Jasper, the new boy. And she doesn't tell anyone about her dad. Because her dad died when she was seven. And Biz knows how to float, right there on the surface--normal okay regular fine. But after what happens on the beach--first in the ocean, and then in the sand--the tethers that hold Biz steady come undone. Dad disappears and, with him, all comfort. It might be easier, better, sweeter to float all the way away? Or maybe stay a little longer, find her father, bring him back to her. Or maybe--maybe maybe maybe--there's a third way Biz just can't see yet. Debut author Helena Fox tells a story about love and grief, about inter-generational mental illness, and how living with it is both a bridge to someone loved and lost and, also, a chasm. She explores the hard and beautiful places loss can take us, and honors those who hold us tightly when the current wants to tug us out to sea.
Under Rose-Tainted Skies by ISBN: 9780544736511Publication Date: 2017-01-03Norah has agoraphobia and OCD. When groceries are left on the porch, she can't step out to get them. Struggling to snag the bags with a stick, she meets Luke. He's sweet and funny, andhe just caught her fishing for groceries. Because of course he did. Norah can't leave the house, but can she let someone in? As their friendship grows deeper, Norah realizes Luke deserves a normal girl. One who can lie on the front lawn and look up at the stars. One who isn't so screwed up. Readers themselves will fall in love with Norah in this poignant, humorous, and deeply engaging portrait of a teen struggling to find the strength to face her demons.
Ten Miles One Way by ISBN: 9780399544996Publication Date: 2017-03-21Nest and Q walk through the city. Nest speaks and Q listens. Mile by mile, Nest tells Q about her life, her family, her past . . . and her Chimaera, the beast that preys on her mind and causes her to lose herself. Q knows only that his love for Nest runs deeper than the demon that plagues her thoughts, that he loves her in spite of-or perhaps because of-the personal battle she fights every day. A beautifully-written, haunting story. Praise forTen Miles One Way-
Destroy All Monsters by ISBN: 9780062456748Publication Date: 2019-07-02A crucial, genre-bending tale, equal parts Ned Vizzini and Patrick Ness, about the life-saving power of friendship. Solomon and Ash both experienced a traumatic event when they were twelve. Ash lost all memory of that event when she fell from Solomon's treehouse. Since then, Solomon has retreated further and further into a world he seems to have created in his own mind. One that insulates him from reality, but crawls with foes and monsters . . . in both animal and human form. As Solomon slips further into the place he calls Darkside, Ash realizes her only chance to free her best friend from his pain is to recall exactly what happened that day in his backyard and face the truth--together. Fearless and profound, Sam J. Miller's follow up to his award-winning debut novel, The Art of Starving, spins an intimate and impactful tale that will linger with readers.
Turtles All the Way Down by ISBN: 9780525555360Publication Date: 2017-10-10Aza Holmes never intended to pursue the disappearance 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. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Pickett's son Davis. Aza is trying. 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.
Wintergirls by ISBN: 9780670011100Publication Date: 2009-03-19Eighteen-year-old Lia comes to terms with her best friend's death from anorexia as she struggles with the same disorder.
It's Kind of a Funny Story by ISBN: 9780786851966Publication Date: 2006-04-01The author of Be More Chill takes a poignant look at teenage depression in this remarkably moving and authentic picture of the physicality, the despair, and even the hilarity of depression. Hyperion Books for Children/Miramax Books
Mental Health Resources:
24/7 Resources:
- The Trevor Project (1-866-488-7386): Access information preventing suicide and Trevor’s unique resources for LGBTQ youth. Call, Chat, or Text.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255): The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Call or Chat. For TTY Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 1-800-273-8255
- Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741): Connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message. Text or Facebook message option available.
- The Center for Safety and Change (845-634-3344): Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services in Rockland County. Call, Chat, or Text.
- National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-4673): Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. Call or Chat.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233): Trained expert advocates are available 24/7 to provide confidential support to anyone experiencing domestic violence or seeking resources and information. Call or Chat. TTY: 1-800-787-3224.
Spanish Speaking Resources:
- Nacional de Prevencíon del Suicido (1-888-628-9454): Lifeline ofrece 24/7, gratuito servicios en español, no es necesario hablar ingles si usted necesita ayuda.
Local Resources - these websites list multiple hotlines and websites to visit:
Nonfiction
Feeling Better: CBT Workbook for Teens by ISBN: 9781641523325Publication Date: 2019-03-19Teens get help talking stress, anxiety and more in this solutions-based CBT workbook. Getting good grades, making and breaking up with friends, and figuring out what being an adult looks like--these are just some of the challenges that can weigh down on teens. With this workbook, they'll learn real strategies for overcoming obstacles and living the life they want using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Feeling Better: CBT Workbook for Teens teaches teens how to untangle the negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that can trick them into feeling anxious or sad and make it hard to do the things they want to. Through interactive exercises that tackle common issues at home, work, or with friends, this book gives teens the tools they need to deal with anything life throws their way. Feeling Better: CBT Workbook for Teens includes: Real Challenges--Teens discover tools to confront a variety of issues including depression, self-worth, peer relations, anxiety and more. Exercises to take action--Real progress and reflection is fostered on the path to feeling better. New research--The latest strategies from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy are promoted inside these pages. Give your teen strategies to be who they want to be using CBT therapy.
Shout by Call Number: YA B ANDERSONISBN: 9780670012107Publication Date: 2019-03-12Bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson is known for the unflinching way she writes about, and advocates for, survivors of sexual assault. Now, inspired by her fans and enraged by how little in our culture has changed since her groundbreaking novel Speak was first published twenty years ago, she has written a poetry memoir that is as vulnerable as it is rallying, as timely as it is timeless. In free verse, Anderson shares reflections, rants, and calls to action woven between deeply personal stories from her life that she's never written about before. Described as "powerful," "captivating," and "essential" in the nine starred reviews it's received, this must-read memoir is being hailed as one of 2019's best books for teens and adults. A denouncement of our society's failures and a love letter to all the people with the courage to say #MeToo and #TimesUp, whether aloud, online, or only in their own hearts, SHOUT speaks truth to power in a loud, clear voice-- and once you hear it, it is impossible to ignore.
Things We Haven't Said by Call Number: YA 362.883 MouISBN: 9781942186342Publication Date: 2018-01-01A powerful collection of poems, essays, letters, and interviews written by a diverse group of adults who survived sexual violence as children and adolescents. This anthology is a valuable resource to help teens upend stigma and create a better future.
The Anxiety Survival Guide for Teens by Call Number: YA 155.512 SHAISBN: 9781626252431Publication Date: 2015-09-01Do you have problems with anxiety? The Anxiety Survival Guide for Teens is a much-needed, go-to guide to help you finally break free from the worry and ruminations that can get in the way of reaching your goals. If you have anxiety, your fears and worries can keep you from feeling confident and independent. Teen milestones such as making friends, dating, getting good grades, or taking on more mature responsibilities, may seem much more difficult. And if you're like countless other anxious teens, you may even avoid situations that cause you anxiety altogether--leaving you stuck in a cycle of worry and avoidance. So, how can you take control of your anxiety before it takes control of you? Based in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), this book helps you identify your "monkey mind"--the primitive part of the brain where anxious thoughts arise. You'll also be able to determine if you suffer from generalized anxiety, phobias, social anxiety, panic and agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or separation anxiety. Full of powerful yet simple cartoon illustrations, this book will teach you practical strategies for handling even the toughest situations that previously caused you to feel anxious or worried. If you're ready to feel more independent, more confident, and be your best, this unique book will show you how.
(Don't) Call Me Crazy by Call Number: YA 616.89 JENISBN: 9781616207816Publication Date: 2018-10-02Who's Crazy? What does it mean to be crazy? Is using the word crazy offensive? What happens when a label like that gets attached to your everyday experiences? To understand mental health, we need to talk openly about it. Because there's no single definition of crazy, there's no single experience that embodies it, and the word itself means different things--wild? extreme? disturbed? passionate?--to different people. In (Don't) Call Me Crazy, thirty-three actors, athletes, writers, and artists offer essays, lists, comics, and illustrations that explore a wide range of topics: their personal experiences with mental illness, how we do and don't talk about mental health, help for better understanding how every person's brain is wired differently, and what, exactly, might make someone crazy. If you've ever struggled with your mental health, or know someone who has, come on in, turn the pages . . . and let's get talking.
High by Call Number: YA 616.86 SHEISBN: 9780544644342Publication Date: 2019-01-08Just Say Know! With drug education for children more important than ever, this nonfiction book draws on the experiences of the NY Times bestselling father/son team of David and Nic Sheff to provide all the information teens and tweens need to know about drugs, alcohol, and addiction. From David Sheff, author ofBeautiful Boy (2008), and Nic Sheff, author ofTweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines (2008), comes the ultimate resource for learning about the realities of drugs and alcohol for middle grade readers. This book tells it it is, withtestimonials from peers who have been there and families who have lived through the addiction of a loved one, along with the cold, hard facts about what drugs and alcohol do to our bodies. From how to navigate peer pressure to outlets for stress to the potential consequences for experimenting, Nic and David Sheff lay out the facts so that middle grade readers can educate themselves.
The PTSD Survival Guide for Teens by Call Number: YA 616.852 RAJISBN: 9781626259904Publication Date: 2018-02-02Your trauma doesn't need to define you. InThe PTSD Survival Guide for Teens, trauma specialist Sheela Raja--along with her teen daughter Jaya Ashrafi--offers evidence-based skills to help you find strength, confidence, and resilience in the aftermath of trauma. If you've experienced trauma or suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the world can seem like a very frightening place. You may even question your own deeply held beliefs, as well as the motives of others. It's important for you to know that you aren't alone, and there isn't anything wrong with you. Many teens have suffered traumatic events, and thereare solid skills you can learn that will help you recover. So, how can you begin healing and start building the life you were always meant to lead? In this compassionate guide, you'll find skills based in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help you tackle anxiety and harmful avoidance behaviors; manage negative emotions; cope with flashbacks and nightmares; and develop trusting, healthy relationships--even if your trust in others has been shaken to the core. You'll also learn more about the diagnosis and symptoms of PTSD and understand what kind of help is available to you. Whether you've been diagnosed with PTSD or are simply living with the aftereffects of a traumatic event, you shouldn't have to suffer alone. This book will help you to find strength within so you can move forward. This book has been selected as anAssociation for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Book Recommendation--an honor bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that incorporate scientifically tested strategies for overcoming mental health difficulties. Used alone or in conjunction with therapy, our books offer powerful tools readers can use to jump-start changes in their lives.
Under Pressure by Call Number: YA 616.98 KYIISBN: 9781525300073Publication Date: 2019-09-03Adolescents are no strangers to stress. This book explores the science behind that sweaty, heart-racing, under-pressure feeling they sometimes get as they struggle to navigate their changing world. It covers the fight-or-flight reaction to sudden danger, how people cope with chronic stress, how trauma can affect the brain, and the surprising treatments scientists have found for stress in everyday life. The book is divided into chapters and sections that break the information into easily readable chunks, with sidebars and factoids throughout, and simple and often humorous illustrations by Marie-Eve Tremblay.
The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook for Teens by Call Number: YA 616.852 TomISBN: 9781684030095Publication Date: 2018-03-01Today's teens are totally stressed. Based on the self-help classic,The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook, this evidence-based guide will help you develop a game plan for reducing stress so you can focus on reaching your goals. Are you feeling stressed out? You aren't alone. Between school, tests, friendships, dating, the latest drama on social media, college applications, and a bunch of confusing physical changes, it's no wonder that stress is a major mental health issue for many of today's teens. The good news is that there are simple ways you can reduce your stress and reach your goals. This workbook will show you how. WithThe Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook for Teens, you'll learn to understand the underlying causes of your stress. You'll discover practical mindfulness and breathing techniques to help you calm your mind and body in moments of worry and anxiety. You'll also find tips for moving past "what ifs" and "shoulds," strategies for managing negative thoughts and emotions, and tools to help you develop your own personalized plan for dealing with stress. If you're ready to move past stress and worry and start focusing on your bright future, this workbook has everything you need to get started today. Teens need mental health resources more than ever. With over 1.2 million copies sold worldwide, Instant Help Books for teens are engaging, proven-effective, and recommended by therapists.
