Find your next great read for Mental Illness Awareness Week by exploring my reviews of these amazing YA books about mental illness.
Many YA book lists about mental illness focus on depression or anxiety. While generalized anxiety, depression, and social phobias are the most common types of mental illness in teens, they are not the only ones. Early onset Schizophrenia also affects teens for example, as well as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
If you are interested in exploring a more diverse collection of YA books about mental illness that span the spectrum of conditions affecting mood, thinking, and behavior, then this list is for you.
Reading young adult books about mental illness is a great way for teens to see through the viewpoint of someone with a mental illness. And through this lens, we might gain some insight about the richness and complexity of what it means to live in that world.
Here are my personal recommendations for young adult books about mental illness that you’ll want to check out.
Unquiet Riot by Khristina Chess
“When you’re the smallest and ugliest kid in third grade, you can’t stare blankly out the window like an alien pod person awaiting the return of the mother ship; that was a fast jaunt to a bloody playground brawl.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from Unquiet Riot
Riley’s life is filled with mind-numbing boredom until Henry arrives at his school.
Henry’s amazing! Henry believes the world is populated by robots posing as humans. He believes the shadows in his room are monsters escaping from the electrical wires, and he sleeps with knives under his mattresses. For Riley, visiting Henry’s world is like being a tourist in a foreign land.
Henry’s strangeness makes him a target for the same slander, harassment, and assault that Riley has been suffering for most of his school life.
But when the bullies take it too far, Henry decides to strike back.
Exhilarating and mind-bending! What I love most about Unquiet Riot is the slow unfolding of the friendship between the boys and the way Henry’s mental illness becomes revealed a little at a time. I worried for him. Riley is a great unreliable narrator who is witty and scary. This is the kind of authentic novel that really shows how factors like bullying, mental illness, and lack of teacher and parental involvement can allow an environment for a mass school violence event to occur.
You won’t want to miss this powerful YA book about mental illness that explores the consequences of remaining silent. Fans of My Sister Rosa will love this psychological thriller.
The Cutting Edge of Friendship by Khristina Chess
“Sometimes my inside hurts so bad that I need to make the outside hurt worse so the inside will stop.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from The Cutting Edge of Friendship
Sadie and Elana have always shared everything—but now, they’re keeping secrets that could destroy them.
On the night of the fireworks, something terrible happened to Sadie—something she can’t even put into words. Instead, she turns to cutting, the only way she knows to cope.
Elana has secrets too. She’s been texting Hunter, making plans to meet in secret, and never questioning why he insists on hiding their relationship.
As their lives spiral deeper into danger, Sadie must find the strength to fight back—not just for herself, but for Elana—before a predator can strike again.
Absolutely gripping! The Cutting Edge of Friendship pulled me in from the first page, and I couldn’t look away until the girls were safe. Sadie’s resilience is fierce and unforgettable, and the novel’s raw, unfiltered emotion hits hard. This story doesn’t shy away from the truth—it reveals, with painful honesty, how self-harm can become a desperate response to trauma.
In fact, Khristina Chess has a diverse collection of YA novels that deal with mental illness, including self-harming, depression, and eating disorders. She’s such a great author that she’s on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because she’s all-around amazing!
A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
"I think we're all quite mad. Some of us are just more discreet about it." ― Mindy McGinnis, quote from A Madness So Discreet
Imagine that you could be imprisoned in an insane asylum just because you're a woman and a male in your life wants to get rid of you. This sort of thing happened to women in the last century. For real. This is what happened to Grace, the protagonist in A Madness So Discreet. The man who sent her to the facility was her own father, and the inconvenient truth was that she was pregnant with his child.
This is the beginning of A Madness So Discreet. But the novel does not linger in the horrors of lobotomies and torture of mental patients. Instead, Grace escapes into the hands of a doctor who uses her talents to help solve murders.
As a serial killer mystery unfolds, though, you know that a showdown between Grace and her father, a powerful senator, is coming. He thinks she is dead. He is about to move on to her younger sister. She is motivated to stop him, even at risk to herself.
What happens in the end of this dark novel is astonishing. No spoilers here. Just treat yourself and read it. Mindy McGinnis is near the top of my favorite YA authors. A Madness So Discreet is one of her early works, so I didn't think it was as fabulous as Female of the Species or Heroine. Still, it was classic McGinnis and worth every single page. If you want a twisty YA book about mental illness, be sure to check this one out.
Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton
“Real is subjective. There are a lot of things that aren't actually real to everyone. Pain, for example. It's only real to the one experiencing it. Everyone else has to take your word for it.”― Julia Walton, quote from Words on Bathroom Walls
This story about a character with schizophrenia is told through journal entries or letters to a therapist, and so it took me a long time to connect to Adam. I'm glad I stuck with it, though, because I really enjoyed how the book ended. I appreciated that there weren't easy answers for his illness and that the people in his life came through for him in unexpected ways.
Don’t miss this small YA book that tackles the big issue of mental illness in a loving, beautiful, and hopeful way.
The Wicker King by K. Ancrum
"Perception is relative. So is sanity, if you think about it. It's totally a Minority vs. Majority thing. If you fall on one side of the line, take a ticket and proceed. If you fall on the other, shit gets real." ― K. Ancrum, quote from The Wicker King
This novel is a fast-paced read with super-compelling characters in a relationship that evolves into a more dangerous thing with each passing page. I had a paperback copy and enjoyed the layout and visual design of the experience of the book. You can physically see the descent into darkness on the side of the pages. The creativity in this technique makes this book special.
There are moments between these two boys that are truly chilling, when Jack's dominance over August goes too far:
"We have to drown you," Jack continued bluntly. "Or just nearly enough that you pass through the gates, but not so much that you can't come back from there."
I won't give any more away. The psychological dynamic between these two characters will draw you in and keep the pages turning!
I recommend splurging on the paperback for this one so you can enjoy the visuals.
My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier
“Killing things shouldn't make you happy, Rosa. That's why they're worried.” ― Justine Larbalester, quote from My Sister Rosa
I went into this book with high expectations that Rosa would be some creepy 10-year-old future (or current) serial killer, and that story question drove the plot for me. What terrible thing will she do?
Although there are some slow points, the pacing in the second half of the book is excellent, and events took some thrilling and quite unexpected turns.
Most of the conversations between Che and his sister Rosa, who is a psychopath, are fascinating, dark, and disturbing.
Rosa shrugs. “How should I know? I asked Seimone lots of questions. She answered them all. I showed an interest. I know all sorts of things about her now.”
She’s a seriously messed-up kid.
Rosa smirks though she can’t see the phone. “I’m going to get a dog, Che. When I get it I won’t hurt it. You’ll see. I keep my promises.”
Indeed she does.
You don’t want to miss this chilling YA book about mental illness. And if reading about characters with “empathy erosion” interests you, you’ll find a list of similar titles in my post on Chilling Teen Psychopath Books That Evoke Strong Emotions.
Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland
“Everyone's got something. Some people are just better actors than others.” ― Tamara Ireland Stone, quote from Every Last Word
I loved everything about this book. Sam is a flawed character with a story to share. Although on the surface she looks like a typical teenager with the normal set of diverse friends and interests, she is something else. She has a secret, OCD, which she hides from everyone.
Watching her new friendships and romantic relationship with AJ develop was compelling, and I was pleasantly surprised by some of the plot twists along the way. The poetry is awesome! Everything about Sam's world felt very vivid and rich--Poet's Corner, the swimming pool, Sue's office... The Odometer! There is so much depth to this novel. What a satisfying read all around.
Don’t miss this moving and beautiful YA book about mental illness.
Willow by Julia Hoban
“It's hard to keep a secret when it's written all over your body.” ― Julia Hoban, quote from Willow
In this complex novel about self-harming and grief, I met the wonderful character of Willow. She is an orphan with terrible secrets. Guilt. Pain. Numbness. And love.
I can’t speak about whether or not Willow suffers from a deep self-harming mental illness, or if she’s simply a teenager who doesn’t know how to deal with the terrible things that happened in her life. Cutting seems like an answer. She feels alone and sad. At any rate, the book felt emotional and honest to me. I loved reading her story and connecting with her pain as she journeyed to wholeness.
Be sure to check out this thought-provoking and heartbreaking YA book that wrestles with cutting, grief, and the healing power of love.
Made You Up by Francesca Zappia
““Sometimes I think people take reality for granted.” ― Francsca Zappia, quote from Made You Up
The ending was super confusing to me. I can't decide if:
a) I wasn't paying close enough attention and missed something critical in those last, rushed chapters
b) It was supposed to be confusing
Maybe both. The protagonist is a teenage girl who has been diagnosed with early-onset schizophrenia, so I entered the story with an expectation of hallucinations. Okay, fine. Weird things will happen (and did). The plotting started out slow, but I really fell in love with Alex. She's trying so hard. Her heart is just out there in the open, so big and lovely.
I read this one in less than a week, and the story and characters are very engaging. I wanted to know that Alex would be okay. I wanted her to have a happy ending because in fiction, that's possible. I hope that's what happened.
Readers in search of diverse YA books about mental illness will enjoy this one. I did!
Tenderness by Robert Cormier
“A smile for all the stupid people out there with bleeding hearts for serial killers.” ― Robert Cormier, quote from Tenderness
This short YA novel puts the reader inside the mind of a psychopath, Eric Poole, who killed his parents and three other girls, as well as a sociopath, Lori, who is attracted to Eric and who also has a very weak moral compass. Fate introduces them, and it seems to be destiny that reunites them when Eric is released from juvenile detention.
In a way, Eric is more relatable than Lori. We have encountered people like him in "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "American Psycho." We know what to expect. He kills. He needs to keep killing. And he does. But Lori is an intriguing character who does CRAZY things. She is childlike with a poor sense of self-preservation, and her actions seem both whimsical and calculated. She seems to know the difference between right and wrong, but she's willing to embrace wrong.
If you’re looking for diverse YA books about mental illness, check out Tenderness. You will be disturbed.
Other YA Books about Mental Illness
If depression and anxiety are the mental health issues that you want to understand more deeply, you can find also several great Mental Illness Book Lists on Goodreads. Be sure to look at my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of reviews of YA books by type of tough topic.
Do you have any personal favorites to recommend to me? I’m always looking for another great read in this category.
Khristina Chess is the award-winning author of several YA novels about troubled teens turning corners. You can find her on Amazon, Goodreads, and Twitter as an active daily contributor in the #5amwritersclub.