With humor and respect, this novel explores eating disorders and their roots, appealing to a wide audience.Ĭrazy by Linda Vigen Phillips (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers) Each day he shudders at the number of calories the doctors are attempting to shove down his throat, listens to the tragic stories of his peers, and falls deeper in love with fellow resident, ballerina Alice. Bones, the sixteen-year-old protagonist of this touching novel is one of only two males in the Eating Disorder Unit of a hospital. The harmful stigma around anorexia often prevents sufferers from sharing their experiences, not just for girls but also for boys. Skin and Bones by Sherry Shahan (Albert Whitman Teen) Complex characters and effective, often evocative description set the novel apart from the standard coming-of-age story. Full of lyricism and emotion, Sparks Off You depicts the unraveling of a young woman as she desperately struggles to navigate a world that doesn’t seem to have a place for her. The world in general, the idea of normalcy, and especially people, including her sister Maya, overwhelm Julie, and as she advances in age, her thin grasp on her own personality, and eventually reality itself, weakens. Julie Randeria is a gifted Indian-American girl with a love of painting, but her sensitive nature makes it hard to simply fit in. Sparks Off You by Anita Felicelli (Hen Flower Press) These young-adult novels depict depression and other mental illnesses honestly and offer hope for teens, whether they are dealing with a family member with a disease or are struggling with it themselves.

Awareness is important and should start at a young age, as teenagers are certainly at risk. But these young adult books dare to explore these issues: anorexia, bipolar disorder, drug addiction, depression-and how to love someone who lives with a mental illness.Īs the most common form of mental illness and the leading cause of disability in the United States, depression is something all should take seriously. “There are things in the world too big to talk about,” says the protagonist of one of these five novels. These 5 YA Novels Can Offer Hope to Teens Who Suffer From Mental Illness