There are plenty of people that argue that rape or sexual assault shouldn’t be discussed or included in young adult books because it’s too dark. Many people believe that these kinds of subjects shouldn’t be included in teen literature because the dark behavior that’s being represented “must be condoned by the adults in their school life.” Whether or not you take this point of view, one thing’s for sure: there are teens that deal with these topics and issues in their everyday life, and seeing them within the books they’re reading may make them feel like they’re not alone.
Personally, I don’t think that teens should be turned away from things that they want to read. Instead, this can be used as an opportunity to have discussions with teens. If you’re more willingly to discuss rather than ban outright, then your teen is probably going to be more likely to talk to you about things going on in their lives.
I wanted to focus on YA books that discuss sexual assault this week because of the events surrounding Brett Kavanaugh and the consequences of sexual assault. Most of the YA books here focus on teen girls and their points of view, but please let me know in the comments if you have any recommendations that focus on boys and I’ll add them to my list!
1. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
This is still the first book that I recommend when dealing with sexual assault because it withstands the test of time. Melinda’s story is one that many women can relate to. She’s seen as the villain because she calls the cops at a party where she was assaulted; thus, for most of the book her voice is silenced because she’s afraid of the consequences. I think this is further emphasized in the graphic novel adaptation that came out this last year (which you should definitely check out. It’s amazing). Speak is a classic that should already be on your Goodreads “read” shelf.
2. Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin
Garvin’s main character here is nonbinary, and we’re never given any gender identity outside of this within the novel (which is pretty rad!). We don’t often get points of view from the LGBTQ community (at least, outside of women), and this book deals with a lot of issues that nonbinary people face. Many people within this community are more likely to be harassed because of prejudices against them, making them more vulnerable. Riley’s struggle reflects the struggle a lot of teens face.
3. Sold by Patricia McCormick
Sold takes a slightly different take on sexual assault: Lakshmi is sold into prostitution when her family’s crops are washed away by a monsoon. McCormick accurately represents the life that many teen girls find themselves in, especially for families in desperate need for money. Told in vignettes, Lakshmi’s story is heartbreaking for anyone who reads it.
4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
I lied; there is a book featuring a male victim of sexual assault on this list (my bad). Though we don’t learn the full extent of it until the end of the book (and it’s made a bit clearer through the movie), Charlie’s story is also one that many teens can find themselves in. Additionally, the book also deals with abortion, stemming from Candice’s relationship with her physically abusive boyfriend, Derek. Since we get Charlie’s point of view, we can see the effects of the sexual abuse on him throughout the book, and important viewpoint that we don’t quite get enough of in YA.
5. The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
I saved the best for last, in my opinion. The Female of the Species contains one of the best discussions of rape culture and sexual assault that I’ve seen in awhile. Alex Craft is someone who will protect other girls at any cost; she’s not afraid to stand her ground against the various sexual predators she encounters at school and outside of school. This book is definitely one that will stay in your mind long after you read it.