YA Books about Mental Health || Top Ten Tuesday

Guys.

I HAVE DISCOVERED THE WORLD OF BOOKISH WEEKLY MEMES AND I HAVE NO CHILL... AAAHHHHH...

Hello there!

Now that I have yelled at you with all the enthusiasm of a shrieky, 3-year old, let's talk about the reason why I'm excited.

So, first things first, Top Ten Tuesday. This is a weekly meme/ prompt/ feature started by "The Broke and the Bookish" and I've decided to participate. The prompt is released in advance and bloggers can do their own post based on it.

And, here I am, doing my first eveeerrr Top Ten Tuesday. Can you tell I'm EXCITED?!?

Of course, you can't... I'm being very, very subtle about it.. shhh..

Anyway, the prompt for this Tuesday is "10 Books that feature (a particular type of) character" and I've chosen "Characters with mental health issues".

1. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

You guys know about my love for this book. It talks beautifully about a very sensitive topic.

Both the main characters are dealing with pain - Violet is struggling after her sister's death and Theodore is obsessively taken up with the death's concept. They save each other in some ways but not quite.

This books describes that sometimes even love is not enough to keep people from taking their life away. Theodore finds happiness with Violet but, continues to battle against his own demons.

The ending is just heart-breaking but I think, it was necessary. Books about suicide are written not nearly enough. And Queen Niven does it in such a delicately beautiful way.

2. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

Oh my goodness, this book was such a great read!

This is the story of Audrey, a girl who has left school due to a negative incident and stays home all the time. She has social anxiety disorder and wears dark sunglasses all the time. Because she's scared of eyes (yes, you read that right).

It is so very easy to get attached to the characters in this book. They are real and at times, hilarious. You'll find yourself rooting for Audrey and cheering when she makes progress. There is also a very endearing love story unfolding between Audrey and Frank, her gaming buddy. So that's something to look forward to.

I love Sophie's writing in this book and the way she has described this angle of Mental Health.

3. Eliza and her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

This is about a girl who has social anxiety. She has no friends at school and is considered an awkward weirdo. But, she leads a dual life, in the sense that she has a secret Internet identity. And a very popular one at that.

She has created a super famous comic and is worshiped by her online fans. The book talks about the perils of Internet fame and dealing with depression and anxiety from the perspective of a teenager.

Ok, so, I'm quite excited about reading this one. The plot sounds incredibly interesting and I haven't read anything similar before.

4. Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

If it's written by the Queen herself, it has to be gold.

Jennifer Niven delivers again in this book. The plot revolves around a teenage girl who was dubbed "America's Fattest Teen" when a rescue team had to save her. She deals with her mother's death, anxiety and bullying among other pressures of her teenage life. Her new friend, Jack, also has a secret that he's hiding from the world.

A beautiful story about self-love and accepting yourself for who you are, Holding up the Universe is a must read.

5. When We Collided by Emery Lord

I have a full review up for this book on the blog, if you wish to check it out.

This book is about a teenage girl - Vivi - who suffers from Bipolar Disorder. Throughout the story, there are various instances of what life is like for someone who has to deal with such a condition.

Emery Lord shows us the kind of damage Bipolar disorder can do to a person. It affects everyone associated with that person and support, in every form, must be extended to such people.

6. 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Another beautiful book addressing the issue of Suicide. I'm sure this one needs no mention. It came a very popular pick after the Netflix series came out.

The story is about Hannah Baker, a high-school girl who took her life. But not before leaving a set of cassette tapes explaining the 13 reasons why she committed suicide. These tapes were sent out to every person who had something to do with her not wanting to live anymore.

Jay Asher describes perfectly the effects of bullying and what our daily actions and words can do to someone. If you haven't picked it up yet, I highly recommend!

7. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

In this novel, the writer narrates the story of a teenage girl - Lia - suffering from anorexia. Eating disorders are quite a common issue, especially in young adults, and this book shines a light on it beautifully.

Along with anorexia, Lia also deals with self-harm issues. Writing about such topics can be a delicate affair, but this book does it well. Pick it up if you want a peek into Lia's mind frame.

8. Fans of the Impossible Life by Kate Sclesa

This YA book is about three teenagers - Jeremy, Mira and Sebby. Mira is dealing with depression and finds it difficult to do normal day-to-day things. Jeremy is an introvert artist who has had an upsetting incident at school. Sebby lives with a foster family, is openly gay but is always getting into troublesome situations that lead to his deep unhappiness.

There's a lot of diversity that's been incorporated in the story. Whether you are looking for a bisexual or a lesbian character, this book has it all. And despite the complication that such a plot can bring, Kate handles it masterfully.

9. Made You up by Francesca Zappia

This book is based on a topic I haven't read much about - Schizophrenia - and that makes it a very unique Contemporary. I haven't been able to pick it up yet, but, the story sounds so intriguing that I've bumped it up on my TBR.

It's about a girl who can't tell the difference between what's real and what's not. That premise itself is so scary and daunting, I can't imagine what it must be like to deal with such a condition.

It makes me so happy to know that more and more authors are taking up the banner and discussing such important, sensitive issues. I've heard great things about the narrative in this book and honestly, can't wait to get started with it.

10. Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

Another one I haven't read yet, so, let's hope I get to it soon.

The story talks about a girl has lost a lot of important people in her life and is dealing with depression. The only way she is able to make it easier is by indulging in self-harm.

It must be enlightening to read about what it is like to truly believe that hurting yourself is the only way to express your grief. This book gives us a peek into such a mindset. I'm looking forward to picking this one up.

So, those were my top ten YA books that talk about mental health.

Tell me if I missed out on some good ones! Do you spot any favorites? Which book do YOU think captures the topic of Mental Health perfectly?

Also, leave a comment below directing me to your own blog, if you have one!