It’s Okay Not To Be Okay: YA books about mental health
Collage by Mya.
We’ve come a long way with how we define and discuss mental health, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a long way to go, especially when it comes to young people (we are the future, after all). It’s more important now than ever to educate ourselves and have adequate and respectful representation in the media we consume. I have compiled a list of books that do a good job of portraying mental illness, separated into subsections as some authors practically specialize in exploring various scenarios on the topic. Hope you enjoy!
The Holly Bourne Corner
Quite easily the best depiction of OCD I have read so far. The novel tells the story of Evie—‘the girl who went crazy’ as she calls herself—and her daily struggles fighting her mind while still trying to have a ‘normal’ teenage girl experience. Evie longs to be like everyone else and not have to worry about germs, rituals, and intrusive thoughts for every possible scenario that could go wrong. She also tries to pursue a relationship with a guy who is less than suitable, which goes horribly wrong to say the least.
The book is not afraid to ‘go there’ with depictions of what’s going on inside Evie’s head. This can be a bit hard to read sometimes but it really makes you care for her character, especially as you watch her downward spiral. The novel is also a good source for feminist thought and ideals, although at times it could get a tiny bit preachy for me (but the topics definitely need to be talked about more!).
The Places I’ve Cried in Public
This one is so difficult to read but so necessary. The book follows Amelie as she recounts recent events of her toxic relationship by visiting all the places he made her cry (and there are a lot of them). We find out how the pair met and got together and what Bourne does well is she shows all the subtle things emotionally abusive relationships can entail. Although as readers we can see Reese is an evil douchebag, we can understand why Amelie is so entangled in him, choosing not to see the red flags (or flag posts more like).
Frankly, this book might not be for everyone due to its raw portrayal of manipulation, gaslighting, and a fairly graphic depiction of sexual assault, so do read at your own risk.
Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes?
Yet another brilliant representation of a mental illness, if quite hard to read at times. Olive struggles from what is revealed to be bipolar disorder (despite her unsurprising unwillingness to accept the diagnosis) and decides to go to an experimental camp retreat for troubled teens. While there, she decides that she can manage her mental health based on math formulas.
It can be super frustrating to see Olive spiral throughout the novel, so much so that she inevitably hits rock bottom as she refuses to accept professional help. However, it is also, unfortunately, a very common trend among people with bipolar disorder. Without spoiling too much of the plot, the ending of the book doesn’t provide neatly packaged happiness for everyone. Yet, there is a glimmer of hope in Olive’s fight against her mind, which is probably the most realistic way to wrap up such a story.
The Laurie Halsie Anderson Corner
This novel is packed with difficult topics, the most prominent one being eating disorders. Lia is struggling after her best friend Cassie died from bulimia, but even that isn’t enough for her to stop starving herself. The detail in the book about the perils of anorexia is haunting and not recommended for those struggling as it can be triggering, not to mention self-harm that is portrayed quite graphically. Despite that, it’s a good exploration of survivor’s guilt and fractured family dynamics that is worth a read.
A harrowing portrayal of PTSD caused by sexual assault, Anderson’s novel makes the reader uncomfortable in its authenticity. Melinda is shunned by her classmates after calling the police on a party she was assaulted at, which leaves her to process her trauma completely alone and in—you guessed it—silence. Throughout the novel, Melinda eventually finds her voice again, expressing herself through art, even patching up old friendships along the way.
Miscellaneous Corner
This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
Technically this one is a zombie apocalyptic horror story, but it portrays depression so masterfully it would be a crime not to include it. Sloane Price is one of six students who have taken refuge in an abandoned school during a zombie apocalypse, but there is something that separates her from the others—she actually wants to die. Zombies are merely a backdrop in the story that forces the characters together in one place, but the main drama turns out to be what happens in between the school walls. However, because of the genre, it might not be a read for everyone.
Clean by Juno Dawson
Addiction is just as much a mental illness as it is a physical one and this book portrays it really well. The story’s protagonist Lexi is a surprisingly relatable character considering she’s a wealthy Russian socialite and her rehab is pretty much a palace. However, graphic depictions of what it’s like to go on a detox, to relapse, and get back up again are so raw it’s hard not to root for her to get better. The supporting characters are also quite endearing, their various addictions showing the spectrum of how complex and hard to evade they can be. Overall, it’s definitely a worthy book to check out. ◆
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