Ariel Crashes a Train by Olivia A. Cole
Driven by her desire to meet her parents' expectations and societal norms, Ariel grapples with her fear of her own mind and violent fantasies. A summer job at a carnival leads her to new friends who help her discover her struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder and find acceptance and support for her true self.
Under This Red Rock by Mindy McGinnis
Neely must grapple with her monsters in this murder mystery that has her questioning if she is, in fact, the very murderer she seeks.
Chaos Theory by Nic Stone
This is a gripping romance about two teens: a certified genius living with a diagnosed mental disorder and a politician's son who is running from his own addiction and grief.
I Am Not Alone by Francisco X. Stork
Alberto and Grace have an immediate connection. But when Alberto is present at the scene of a terrible crime, he becomes a suspect. And with his developing schizophrenia, he's not even sure he believes in his own innocence.
The Immeasurable Depth of You by Maria Ingrande Mora
Fifteen-year-old Brynn can’t stop thinking about death. Her intrusive thoughts and severe anxiety leave her feeling helpless – and hopeless. She meets Skylar, her opposite in all things, and begins to feel deeply for her. Through Brynn's funny and sincere narration, this story explores the ways mental illness can impact a life by centering a character who is learning (sometimes messily) to accept all parts of herself.
We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride
This haunting, beautiful YA novel in verse about clinical depression and healing from trauma follows characters Whimsy and Faerry, and their magical adventures in the Forest at the end of Marsh Creek Lane.
The Chosen One: A First-Generation Ivy League Odyssey by Echo Brown
In mesmerizing personal narrative and magical realism, this story confronts mental illness, grief, racism, love, friendship, ambition, self-worth, and belonging as it explores the fates of first-generation college students on Dartmouth's campus. It’s an unforgettable coming-of-age story that bravely unpacks the double-edged college transition – as both catalyst for old wounds and a fresh start.
Boy at the Window by Lauren Melissa Elizey
Thrust into a mental health hospital and then into a brand-new high school, Daniel Kim struggles to hold onto reality while haunted by both his very-present past and his never-present parents.
The Art of Insanity by Christine Webb
Putting up a front and hiding her mental illness from her classmates is going to be the hardest thing high-schooler Natalie Cordova has ever done. With the many stressors in her life, her plan to self-treat unravels and so does the perfect facade she's been painting for everyone else.
The Words We Keep by Erin Stewart
This is a beautifully realistic, relatable story about mental health – anxiety, perfectionism, depression – and the healing powers of art. It’s a good reminder that whatever you struggle with, you are not alone and you are already enough – just the way you are.
The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Moira Dreyfuss is convinced that the Castle Schools for girls and boys and the doctors who run them are hiding something. But exploring the schools will force Moira to confront her overwhelming grief over the death of her best friend, Nathan – and the real reasons her parents sent her away.
The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling by Wai Chim
When Anna Chiu is not looking after her brother and sister or helping out at her father's restaurant, she's taking care of her mother, whose debilitating mental illness keeps her in bed most days. Her father's new delivery boy, Rory, is a welcome distraction, and soon Anna is starting to feel like a normal teen. But as her mother's condition continues to decline, her family questions everything they understood about themselves and one another.
The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg
Two teenagers, strangers to each other, have decided to jump from the same bridge at the same time. Aaron is a gay misfit struggling with depression and loneliness. Tillie isn't sure what her problem is – only that she will never be good enough. Anything is possible in this astonishing and insightful novel.
