Mental illness is a serious topic that everyone should know something about, and reading is one of the best ways to learn! So, here are five of the best YA novels about mental illness!
1. Mosquitoland by David Arnold
In which Mim deals with psychosis, and decides to travel from the Mississippi to Cleveland, Ohio in order to see her mom that she suspects has been put into a mental institute like they did with her aunt. This book is realistic in the way it shows how friends and family react to those who are mentally ill, and shows how beneficial it can be to have someone on your side. Another plus side to this book is that, unlike many books do when talking about mental illnesses, it doesn’t imply that finding love will cure you. That’s not Mim’s mission during this book at all. Her mission to find her mom, and hopefully find a new meaning of sanity along the way. Overall rating: 10/10
2. Cut by Patricia McCormick
Callie is an amazing cross country athlete at her school that experiences problems at home that cause her to cut just enough to release some of her pain. She ends up at a rehabilitation center where doesn’t want to be and refuses to speak. She blames herself for everything that was going on at her home. McCormick used vivid imagery to describe some of the scenes and can be triggering to some who struggle with that. Overall rating: 8/10
3. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
This is a good book that includes two main characters struggling with depression due to loss and other family issues. If you read this book without thinking about the portrayal of mental illnesses and look at it more like a cute YA romance novel, it would have a much higher rating from me. However, Niven centers so much of the plot of the characters connecting because of their common struggle and does what many YA authors do is make it seem like that finding love is going to fix everything. If that’s the case, find me a man right now so I can be cured! (Oh, and by the way, the end will definitely make you cry. Sorry!) Overall rating: 5/10
4. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
From the outside, this book doesn’t seem to be about any characters with mental illnesses, and so as not to spoil the plot twists that come later on in the story, but more of her illness is revealed later into the book. This book gave me chills and made me cry (as literally every book does) which puts it in my top five list. Overall rating: 9/10
5. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
This story doesn’t spare details when it comes to discussing eating disorders, specifically anorexia. While it is a good book with pretty accurate descriptions, I would not recommend reading this if you are currently struggling with an ED as it could trigger you and put you in a bad situation. Overall rating: 8/10