So, I know that I already did a Mental Health Awareness post this month. It was actually my Read to Resist post for May; I talked about some of my top Mental Health books in YA. Which, this list will probably fall along similar lines. However, there are so many more books on this topic. So, a second post is definitely worth it!
To make this different from my previous post, I think I’ll focus on a specific mental illness within these books. For my previous post, I focused on variety of mental illnesses. Today, I’m just going to focus on anxiety.
Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly Meme that’s run by Lainey (Gingerreadslainey), with weekly topics posted in this Goodreads group. Here’s my post from a few weeks ago!
5 Books on Mental Health
1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Cath represents someone that struggles with figuring out how to deal with her anxiety, taking steps to ensure her own health. She puts things in place that makes her relatable, especially for those jumping out of their comfort zone into a new environment.
2. Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
Solomon is agoraphobic, a somewhat extreme form of anxiety. Lisa is desperate to get into the best psychology program, so she decides she’s going to “fix” Solomon. Sound problematic, but the issue is addressed within the book. Overall, it’s a pretty effective discussion of the topic.
3. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
I think there’s a lot of stuff going on in this book, but I do think Charlie struggles with anxiety among other things. He’s not really sure how to put himself out there in the beginning and make those friendships and connections.
4. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
Okay, yes, this was on my other list, but it’s just one of the best portrayals of anxiety in young adult lit. At least, in my opinion. It feels real, in-spite of all the other weird stuff going on in the story.
5. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
One of the main characters in this book illustrates anxiety that permeates their lives. Mateo is so afraid of everything that he doesn’t get out much. But his Death Cast call enables him to do just that–to live his last day as an adventure.