With the combined weight of the COVID-19 pandemic, societal changes, and everyday anxieties, it has become increasingly difficult to feel emotionally and psychologically content. Mental health is something that affects us all, regardless of age, gender, race, or experience. Books are a wonderful way to increase awareness and take the time to discuss mental wellness with people in many different stages of life.
This month, encourage self-reflection and empowerment with these nonfiction and fiction YA and children’s titles.
★ How to Be a Difficult Bitch: Claim Your Power, Ditch the Haters, and Feel Good Doing It by Halley Bondy, Mary C. Fernandez, Zara Hanawalt, and Sharon Lynn Pruitt-Young
- Interest Level: Grade 9 – Grade 12
In the past, being a “difficult bitch” was bad. Girls weren’t supposed to call people out for their BS, stand up for themselves, or do their own thing…not anymore!
This book embraces the insult with irreverent humor, encouraging readers to be themselves no matter what, including an exploration of the ways this phrase can be interpreted differently among people of different backgrounds.
Being a powerhouse is a choice. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a code of ethics. It takes work, a thick skin, and perseverance. In this book, you’ll learn the ins and outs of being a Difficult Bitch, from school to friends to body to life.
“A thoughtful, engaging, bad-ass crash course in moxie, self-confidence, and self-love.” — starred, Kirkus Reviews
★ All the Things We Never Said by Yasmin Rahman
- Interest Level: Grade 8 – Grade 12
Sixteen-year-old Mehreen is overwhelmed by her anxiety and depression, and she doesn’t believe anyone in her life will understand if she tries to talk about it. She’s been thinking about suicide for a while when she discovers a website called MementoMori.com. The site matches people with partners and assigns them a date on which to end their lives, together. Mehreen is partnered with Cara and Olivia, strangers dealing with their own struggles.
But as the girls get to know one another in preparation for their “date of termination” they find themselves developing a strong bond—even becoming friends. They realize that, with the right support systems, life is worth living after all. So they decide to abandon the suicide pact.
Except the website won’t let them stop.
As their assigned “date of termination” draws nearer and MementoMori continues to manipulate them, the girls will have to rely on one another to survive.
“[P]oignantly realistic. Honestly portrays the dark parts of life—and shows that there is hope.” — starred, Kirkus Reviews
★ Attention Hijacked: Using Mindfulness to Reclaim Your Brain from Tech by Erica B. Marcus
A Booklist Top 10 Health & Wellness Book
- Interest Level: Grade 8 – Grade 12
Technology surrounds us every day: a phone alarm wakes us up, an electronic calendar tracks assignment deadlines, GPS directs us to the new dentist’s office, social media keeps us connected to friends and family, and streaming platforms make sure we’re never without something new to binge-watch. Our devices and apps can make life much more convenient and entertaining.
But for years, scientists have warned that too much screen time may have negative effects on our health. With portable devices and remote learning, it is even more difficult to put down electronics. Being intentional about how and when to unplug can help teens and young adults to protect their physical and mental wellbeing in a world where screens and technology are increasingly becoming necessities rather than just conveniences.
Attention Hijacked offers a roadmap for those deciding how they want to deal with technology, exploring the ways technology affects the individual, dispelling common misinformation, and using this knowledge to make personalized decisions. Page Plus links in the book lead to mindfulness and meditation audio clips. Using mindfulness techniques, this book gives readers the power to take charge of their technology use.
“Cover[s] various aspects of mindfulness, with Marcus advising students what to do about all the busyness we face in this tech-fueled world. . . lively and deeply relevant work that is a must for school and public libraries.” — starred, Booklist
★ The Beasts in Your Brain: Understanding and Living with Anxiety and Depression by Katherine Speller
- Interest Level: Grade 8 – Grade 12
It can be hard to find the words to describe the icky feelings that seem to come from nowhere and sap all your joy and energy. You can tell that your brain just isn’t pulling off the same tasks as others, and you’re constantly bouncing between feeling nothing and feeling the weight of everything. It’s hard enough to admit that you’re struggling, but how do you even begin to navigate getting help when it feels like there’s an enormous gap between you, your peers, and the adults in your life who keep saying they want to support you but just don’t seem to get it?
This is not your doctor’s dry health pamphlet or a preachy self-care listicle. The Beasts in Your Brain is a guide and companion equally for you and your loved ones, here to provide that essential first dose of information, understanding, and validation about mental illness and how it affects the young people of today.
Though they might be scary or seem unstoppable, the beasts can be defeated. It will be hard work, but it is not work you will ever have to do alone. This book will be your first partner in your battle against the beasts, reminding you that there’s always hope and humor to be found in openly talking about the realities of living with mental illness. Together with the support of your loved ones and the practical knowledge and tools you will learn in this book, you can win this fight.
“A solid, informative guide for parents and teens that is a beacon of positivity, emphasizing the importance of resilience and healing amid the epidemic of mental health issues prevalent today.” —starred School Library Journal
Healthy Living Library Series
- Interest Level: Grade 8 – Grade 12
This series examines some of the most prevalent health concerns for teens and young adults. Medical experts provide a comprehensive and sensitive overview of topics using timely and reliable information from leading health organizations.
Mindfulness and Meditation: Handling Life with a Calm and Focused Mind by Whitney Stewart
A Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List Pick
- Interest Level: Grade 6 – Grade 12
From hormones to homework, parents to peers, health issues to bad habits, life can be a pressure cooker. How can we find relief?
Author Whitney Stewart introduces readers to the practice of mindfulness. With its roots in ancient Buddhist teachings, mindfulness—the practice of purposefully focusing attention on the present moment—can change a person’s approach to stress, develop skills to handle anxiety and depression, and provide a sense of awareness and belonging. Stewart guides readers through how to get started with meditation as well as provides specific exercises for examining emotions, managing stress, checking social media habits and wellness routines, and setting intentions to increase happiness.
“A thorough and accessible resource for young people.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Considering the range of challenges that today’s teens face, equipping them with pertinent coping skills is crucial for their future success and well-being. . . . [S]traightforward and refreshing. Recommended for purchase.” — School Library Journal
Mindful Spaces Series
- Interest Level: Grade 2 – Grade 5
Mindful Spaces guides young readers through exercises and activities that encourage them to slow down and pay attention to their minds, their bodies, and their feelings.
Find ways to calm down and become more focused with charming illustrations and inviting text that encourage self-esteem, self-confidence, and mindfulness.
* On Sale 1/1/2024
Calm Monsters, Kind Monsters: A Sesame Street® Guide to Mindfulness by Karen Latchana Kenney
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 2
Breathing, positive self-talk, and calming down—mindfulness includes all this and more. Sesame Street characters present big emotions readers have likely faced alongside simple solutions like belly breathing to help kids cope with what they’re feeling.
“[T]his useful compendium offers realistic situations and simple advice for talking with children about feelings.” — School Library Journal
How Are You Feeling?: Naming Your Emotions with Sesame Street® by Marie-Therese Miller
- Interest Level: Preschool – Grade 2
Everyone has big feelings.
What situations might cause different feelings to happen? How can you recognize what others are feeling? Help show young readers how to identify and name their emotions alongside their friends from Sesame Street.
For more titles focusing on mental wellness and other important topics, visit our website.