Looking for an unforgettable collection of the best YA books about teens facing tough problems? As an award-winning author and veteran blogger, I’ve spent over a decade analyzing and recommending the most unflinchingly real books that explore difficult and sensitive topics like mental health, suicide, eating disorders, addiction, grief, self-harming, racial justice, and bullying.
You’ll find detailed reviews of more than 20 of my favorite novels in the roundup below. Some of these authentic stories will break your heart, but I promise that every issue-driven novel here is worth the journey.
The Cutting Edge of Friendship by Khristina Chess
Key Issues
Self-harm & sexual assault
What it’s about
Two best friends hide dangerous secrets—one about sexual assault and self-harm, and the other unknowingly walking into the predator’s trap.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Sometimes my inside hurts so bad that I need to make the outside hurt worse so the inside will stop.” ― Khristina Chess from The Cutting Edge of Friendship
Absolutely gripping! For readers who felt drawn to the deep emotional pain and physical scars of Kathleen Glasgow’s bestseller Girl in Pieces, The Cutting Edge of Friendship is for you. This realistic novel explores the wounds of self-harm, shame, and redemption following a sexual assault. Sadie’s resilience is fierce and unforgettable, and the book’s raw, unfiltered pain hits hard. This story doesn’t shy away from the truth but reveals how self-harm can become a desperate response to trauma.
From the very first page, it’s clear that although Sadie and Elana have always shared everything, 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 name. Instead, she turns to cutting, the only way she knows to cope.
But 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.
I wholeheartedly recommend this poignant YA book about friendship and the trust involved in sharing our truest selves.
Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
Key Issues
Mental health & self-harm
What it’s about
A complex and bestselling novel about a girl working through recovery and the setbacks she experiences along the way.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“People should know about us. Girls who write their pain on their bodies.” ― Kathleen Glasgow from Girl in Pieces
In case you somehow missed Girl in Pieces, let me tell you about it.
This wonderful novel was the kind of story that kept pulling me away to a quiet room to curl up with a cup of tea and a lamp until I finished. I had to know what was going to happen to Charlie. I had to know whether or not she was going to be okay in the end. Because although she seemed to be making progress, this guy in her life wasn't a good choice for her. And then her friend from the hospital shows up, and she doesn't seem to be a good direction either. And if you've ever known addiction or seen someone struggling with recovery from anything, you know that the line is so easy to cross.
For Charlie, crossing the line might have devastating consequences because she has her tender kit, and it's full of glass. It's not tender but slashes and cuts.
So I read and worried and loved this young girl, who was so alone and hungry and living on the edge. I wanted someone to help her. Someone good.
This YA book about self-harming and cutting―and this girl―will stay with me for a long while. In fact, all of Kathleen Glasgow’s books are about teens facing tough problems, so I recommend buying all of them.
The Wicker King by K. Ancrum
Key Issues
Mental health
What It’s About
A chilling story about two friends who descend into madness together.
Why I Love It - Book Review
"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 male 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!
Coywood Creek by Khristina Chess
Key Issues
Eating disorders & anxiety
What it’s about
A quirky and lighthearted dystopian thriller about teen battling anxiety and binge eating disorder, forced to adopt new coping strategies as society crumbles around her.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“With an unremarkable click, like a period at the end of a sentence, the world ended.” ― Khristina Chess from Coywood Creek
This hilariously smart YA novel will wreck you—in the best way possible!
For readers drawn to the slow unraveling of society in dystopian fiction, Coywood Creek delivers a comical journey through the eyes of a teenager with binge eating disorder who has a dark sense of humor and appreciation for the absurdities of life.
At first, Zoey brushes off the blackout, the dead cell service, and the eerie northern lights. She has plenty of food. But as reality sets in, she knows one thing: she can’t stay in her parents’ condo alone with no power. So she packs her snacks and sets out for Coywood Creek, hoping to find safety with her uncle and grandmother. Instead, she finds something else entirely.
What makes this novel so engrossing is Zoey’s sharp, relatable, and often humorous response to navigating the collapse of civilization with her signature sarcasm (and a bag of OREO cookies). Her various “lists” provide both entertainment and thought-provoking commentary on culture. Her delicious banter with Kent made me laugh out loud, even as the novel’s deeper themes—resilience, uncertainty, and survival—kept me hooked.
But more than anything, Coywood Creek forces you to ask: How fragile are we without our technology?
I highly recommend this relatable YA novel about the end of the world. You have to meet the sassiest survivor since Katniss—and don’t forget to bring snacks.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Key Issues
Racial and social justice
What it’s about
A young girl witnesses the police shooting of her friend, and she must find the courage to speak out.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?” ― Angie Thomas from The Hate U Give
I saw this book everywhere and picked it up, wondering what all the fuss is about. Wow. I couldn't put it down. Starr is an amazing character in a perfectly-crafted situation that screams with tension, suspense, and emotion. The themes in this award-winning novel are relevant, raw, and authentic. You can feel Star’s little-girl timidity in the grand jury testimony and her grief and rage in the scene with Hailey. Her world is vivid and real. The pain of her dual life and the conflict it causes her is palatable.
I loved this book. I love this girl. I want to see her again, doing more, making a difference. She made me believe in her.
And after reading this one, I wanted to read everything Angie Thomas has written!
Heroine by Mindy McGinnis
Key Issues
Addiction
What it’s about
A powerful story of addiction and recovery after a teen girl wakes up to find all of her friends dead.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“When I wake up, all my friends are dead. I don’t know when they stopped breathing, or how long I slept while they dropped off one by one.” ― Mindy McGinnis from Heroine
Those are the opening words of Heroine, the compelling novel about the slow slide of Mickey from Catalan from her position as a star student athlete to heroin addict. It begins with a terrible car accident and pain. Determine to make it back on the field, she uses the prescription painkillers to accelerate her recovery.
But then she’s out of pills and needs more.
What’s so compelling about Heroine is Mickey’s slow slide into addiction and her denial about her situation. She justifies every step of the way. The means justifies the ends, every time.
I did not watch my friends die.
I did not leave their bodies cooling in a basement.
I am not an addict.
Heroine is one of the best YA books featuring characters dealing with substance abuse that I’ve ever read. It’s real and raw, and I couldn’t look away. I really rooted for her to find a way to health.
Property of Nobody by Khristina Chess
Key Issues
Global crisis - human trafficking
What it’s about
An unaccompanied teen boy from Honduras flees murdering coyotes, only to become ensnared by human traffickers and forced into debt bondage.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“No one is coming for you. No one is missing you. And no one will mourn you if you’re killed.” ― Khristina Chess from Property of Nobody
Hands down, this is the best YA novel about human trafficking and immigration that you’ll read this year!
In a genre where male voices are rare, young Teódulo stands out—a gripping, unforgettable protagonist trapped in the insidious web of debt bondage after the murder of his father. His descent is slow, suffocating, inevitable. I worried for him. I clung to every choice he made, knowing escape might never come.
This novel doesn’t just tell a story; it challenges readers to look at the dark underbelly of immigration, human trafficking, organized crime, and the vulnerable children who are swallowed by it.
It’s haunting. It’s brutal. It’s harrowing.
With its riveting storytelling and powerful themes, Property of Nobody has sparked conversations across book clubs and reader communities. This is more than fiction; it’s a window into the lives of children we’re too afraid to see.
If you’re searching for a YA novel about tough topics, Property of Nobody is an absolute must-read. I promise that this one will move you and stay with you long after the last page.
Freedom is not free.
Rust & Stardust by T. Greenwood
Key Issues
Child abduction & sexual assault
What it’s about
Based on a true story, an 11-year-old girl is kidnapped by a pedophile and held for two years before escaping.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“How sad was it that grief had a shelf life, he thought. It’s only fresh and raw for so long before it begins to spoil. And soon enough, it would be replaced by a newer, brighter heartache - the old one discarded and eventually forgotten.”―T. Greenwood from Rust & Stardust
I never read Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, and after reading Rust & Stardust by T. Greenwood, I never want to.
Both novels are based on the real abduction of 11-year-old Sally Horner in 1948. T. Greenwood's book, Rust & Stardust, depicts the events primarily from Sally's viewpoint over the two years of her captivity and trafficking from New Jersey to Texas and finally California. What horror. What evil. It's unspeakable. Indescribable. I kept turning pages, hoping for it to be over, hoping for her to escape, but it just went on and on.
There are other characters, including her mom, her sister, her brother-in-law, and others who met Sally along the way, suspected something wrong, and sometimes tried to help her. Rescue her. The whole thing is heartbreaking, for everyone, but especially for dear young Sally.
At the end of the book, the author includes two pictures of the real girl, a "before" and an "after." I stared and stared into her eyes. I hurt so much for this little girl and the trauma she experienced at the hands of Frank Lasalle, a 50-year-old mechanic and pedophile. Sally was not his only victim. And this same despicable creature, Frank Lasalle, inspired the narrator of Lolita. No thank you.
But Rust & Stardust is a deeply moving historical novel and worth the read if you’re looking for books about difficult topics like child abduction and sexual abuse.
The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Key Issues
Foster care, class difference, trauma & abuse
What it’s about
A boy and a girl reunite after many years of separation—one was adopted out of foster care while the other was not.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Goodness, I was already a dork most of the times. I didn’t need to be a drunk or high dork.” ― Jennifer L. Armentrout from The Problem with Forever
After four years of home schooling and therapy, Mallory Dodge takes the gigantic step of going to a public high school for her senior year. She’s ready. She’s pretty sure. But on the first day, she collides with her past as she comes face-to-face with the person who meant everything to her: Rider Stark.
The boy who saved her.
Everything about this book is wonderful. I couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters, and I loved the strong relationship between Mallory “Mouse” and Rider. I loved the way their characters grew and changed as the story unfolded. They were so encouraging with each other, and Mallory’s best friend Ainsley is such a great friend.
The themes in the novel are well developed: childhood trauma, class difference, foster care, adoption, the impact of good teachers (Mr. Santos, the speech teacher), good parenting.
This is simply an amazing book that provides contrasting views about the experiences of foster care. Readers who enjoy issue-driven fiction will love it!
The Truth about Alice by Jennifer Mathieu
Key Issues
Bullying
What it’s about
Told through multiple points of view, this YA novel tells the story Alice, a girl who is being bullied and shamed by her classmates because of sex.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“There is one thing I've learned about people: they don't get that mean and nasty overnight. It's not human nature. But if you give people enough time, eventually they'll do the most heartbreaking stuff in the world.” ― Jennifer Mathieu from The Truth About Alice
Told through multiple points of view, this YA novel tells the story Alice, a girl who is being bullied and shamed by her classmates because of sex. Each of the four narrators have a different perspective of Alice and what happened the night of the party, but because of their agendas, they are unreliable narrators. The worst ones are the girls who create the cloud of hate and shame around Alice.
The narrators are cruel and generally unlikeable people who spend their time justifying their actions. At the same time, because the book is short, there isn’t enough depth for them to do this adequately. I wish I’d had a little more.
In the end, only Alice can tell us what really happened—in her own voice.
If you’re looking for the best YA books for teens facing difficult problems, be sure to check out this story about bullying and slut shaming. Also, for more books specifically like this one, check out my list YA Books about Bullying.
After by Amy Efaw
Key Issues
Teen pregnancy & infanticide
What it’s about
After abandoning her newborn to die, a former “good girl” finds transformation in jail.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“I'd rather be lucky than good. Good is just so overrated. Bad girls have the most fun.” ― Amy Efaw from After
What kind of girl leaves her infant to die in the trash?
Devon Davenport is a “good girl” whose one misstep leads to an unplanned pregnancy. She’s so filled with denial about her entire situation that she cannot even admit to herself that she’s pregnant until she gives birth. The depiction of her detachment is incredibly real and heartbreaking.
During her stay in the juvenile detention center, Devon must face facts about herself and her situation. Her lawyer plays an important role in drawing the story out of her and helping to build empathy for this girl who has committed such a horrific act.
Devon’s transformation from the beginning to the end of book is heartfelt and moving. I couldn’t put it down.
Teen pregnancy is one of the top concerns of American youth, and After is one of the best YA books for teens facing tough problems related to unplanned pregnancy. For more books about this challenging issue, check out my list of 5 Young Adult Books about Teenage Pregnancy to Terrify Your Mother.
By The Time You Read This I’ll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters
Key Issues
Emotional health, bullying, & suicide
What it’s about
A bullied girl who failed her first suicide attempt intends to get it right the next time with the help of a website named Through the Light.
Why I Love It - Book Review
I want to tell them, "Chip, Kim, there is no way to suicide-proof a person.” ― Julie Anne Peters, quote from By the Time You Read This I’ll Be Dead
Daelyn is going to kill herself in 23 days.
A website named Through the Light provides support to wanna-be suicide “completers” like Daelyn, and she spends a lot of free time there. Counting down the days.
Then she meets a boy. She tries to ignore him, but he’s pushy. Persistent. Charming, even.
But is he charming enough to keep her from going through the light when the countdown ends?
By the Time You Read This I’ll Be Dead is one of the best YA books for teens facing tough problems, especially regarding issues of bullying, emotional health, and suicide. This raw book is a fast read. It’s not easy, happy, or hopeful, but it’s authentic. If you’re interested in more books about these topics, check out my list of 6 Gripping Young Adult Books on Depression and Anxiety Struggles.
The Delinquent Hero by Khristina Chess
Key Issues
Eating disorders, grief, death & dying
What it’s about
As her sister dies in the ICU, a grieving teen uses food restriction as a coping mechanism while she investigates the mystery surrounding her anorexic sister's suspicious and tragic accident―and the truth is unbearable.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“It’s easier to think about food and the physical pain inside my body from not eating than the other pain of not having Kat. My sister would totally understand this. She would. As long as I’m connecting to her this way—our familiar, hungry old way—she’s with me.” ― Khristina Ches from The Delinquent Hero
For readers who love “tear-jerkers,” The Delinquent Hero offers a tragic and raw exploration of sisterhood, eating disorders, and devastating heartbreak. If you’ve ever lost someone you love, this gripping YA novel speaks directly to the grief of saying goodbye.
At its core is Molly, desperate for answers after her older sister, Kat, lands in the hospital. Something is suspicious. The investigation unfolds in real time, peeling back layers of secrets, regrets, and the painful bond they’ve always shared.
What makes The Delinquent Hero truly unforgettable is its heart-wrenching puzzle—not just unraveling what happened to her sister on that fateful day, but understanding Kat herself. This novel doesn’t just tell a story; it forces you to feel every ache, every unanswered question, every regret, every desperate search for why.
The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow
Key Issues
Alcoholism, divorce, & grief
What it’s about
A lovely YA novel about a girl hitting rock bottom and finding the way through recovery.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Every morning when I wake up, I don’t think I’m going to make it. Or maybe I think that I don’t want to make it. I’m heavy with what I did the night before and I’m heavy with everything inside me and sometimes it is just too goddamn much to carry around.” ― Kathleen Glasgow from The Glass Girl
Everything Kathleen Glasgow writes is pure gold, and The Glass Girl is no exception.
Bella is a 15-year-old girl with a drinking problem. Her parents divorced and put her in the middle, and her beloved grandmother died, and her boyfriend broke up with her because she's "too much" (his words), and life really sucks except when she's drinking.
Bella hits bottom as most addicts do and finds herself in the hospital and then in rehab. Her journey through recovery and back to real life is not linear, and along the way, I fell in love with her and her pain. She's very authentic and young. There are moments when she shines so, so brightly, and I just wanted to hug her.
Kathleen Glasgow writes YA books about difficult topics for teens better than anyone! I definitely recommend her latest.
Trafficked by Kim Purcell
Key Issues
Global crisis - human trafficking
What it’s about
A young girl is tricked into coming to the U.S. for a job, only to find herself in debt bondage to terrible people who imprison her in their home.
Why I Love It - Book Review
Trafficked is an absorbing YA novel that shows how an orphaned teenager easily becomes a victim in human trafficking. Hannah was easily duped into leaving her home for the promise of a better life, a salary, and a chance to study. Instead, she became a slave, forced into being an unpaid nanny and a maid, fighting off sexual advances of the husband of the house and his male associates, and being beaten and verbally abused by the wife. She is young, slow to realize her situation, and not great with English.
The plotting of Trafficked was thrilling. There were plenty of twists to keep me invested. For example, there is a backstory about how Hannah was "chosen" by this family that is revealed little by little.
I was rooting for Hannah to find a way out and take charge of her life. I worried about her because I knew the odds were not in her favor.
I’ve included Hannah’s heartbreaking, challenging, and thought-provoking story in this best YA books for teens facing tough problems list because human trafficking is a real, modern problem across the world. You won’t want to miss Hannah’s story. She begins the novel in a state of naïve innocence in her home country, and by the end, she has become mature and wise to the adult world. It’s a realistic and sad tragedy.
Everything Beautiful Is Not Ruined by Danielle Young-Ullman
Key Issues
Mental health & suicide
What it’s about
A complex and beautiful story about a girl in a wilderness program for at-risk teens who comes to terms with her complex relationship with her famous diva mother.
Why I Love It - Book Review
Bring your tissues for this one!
In this absorbing novel, a broken mother-daughter relationship drives everything that’s happening, both in the present and in the past. The present is awful. Ingrid has been sent away to a 3-week wilderness program for at-risk teens, although she didn’t realize what she was signing up for at the time, and now she’s wet, miserable, mosquito-bitten, and trapped with a misfit group in the middle of nowhere. But she’s determined to see things through to prove something to her mother and earn the carrot, which is permission to attend a music school abroad.
The past is a complicated story about her mother’s beautiful opera voice and depression and its impact on Ingrid. There is a strong codependency relationship between the mother and daughter, since the mother is a depressed diva. From an early age, Ingrid took care of her mother since no father was in the picture.
I loved the mystery about how Ingrid ended up in the wilderness, and I was rooting for her to make it out.
If you are looking for a YA book about tough issues like mother-daughter relationships, this one is one of my new favorites. For more books like this one, check out my list Which YA Books about Mother-Daughter Relationships Best Depict This Loving But Painful Dynamic.
The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
Key Issues
Sisters, love, & grief
What it’s about
A beautiful novel about a grieving girl who falls in love with two boys: the cute new kid in school and her dead sister’s boyfriend.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“What kind of girl wants to kiss every boy at a funeral, wants to maul a guy in a tree after making out with her sister’s boyfriend the previous night? Speaking of which, what kind of girl makes out with her sister’s boyfriend, period?” ― Jandy Nelson from The Sky Is Everywhere
I love, love, loved this book! The writing is so lyrical, and the story is incredibly sad. It begins with protagonist Lennie, who is grieving the sudden death of her sister. Although Bailey is dead, the relationship between these siblings is very much alive on the pages of this novel. Lennie writes beautiful poems, and she spends time in their room and shares so many memories that I feel I know Bailey.
A charismatic new boy shows up at school, and Lennie ends up entering into 2 romances at the same time. This is the love triangle. One romance is with the new boy at school, and the other is with her dead sister’s grieving boyfriend. Sooner or later, she has to decide which one of these guys is the one she’s going to stick with. Oh, boy.
All of the characters are vivid, and the story is captivating. The creative visual aspect of the novel is also a nice touch; Lennie writes her poems on scraps and scatters them everywhere, and these appear at the beginning of chapters.
Family can be a difficult challenge for teens. This book is must-read for anyone looking for YA novels about tough topics like sisterhood and grief.
Straight A’s by Khristina Chess
Key Issues
Mental health, divorce, anxiety & suicide
What it’s about
After her parents divorce, a high-achieving teen secretly plans to end her life if she earns a B in calculus—until someone unexpected reminds her she’s more than a grade.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“I'm going to do it. November 4 is the last day of the grading period, and if I don't make perfect straight A’s, it's all over.“ ― Khristina Chess from Straight A’s
For readers drawn to emotional stories about characters grappling with mental health issues, Straight A’s offers a hopeful story that shows the importance of support systems—including parents, teachers, and classmates—in saving a life.
Kim was supposed to be valedictorian. The top of her class. The girl with a future.
Then her parents split, and everything unraveled. She’s caught in the crossfire—bouncing between households, shouldering their meltdowns, and suffocating under expectations she can no longer meet.
The only thing to do is end it.
Raw, unflinching, and ultimately hopeful, Straight A’s is a frank novel about suicide, academic pressure, mental illness, and the invisible weight teenagers carry. If you’ve ever searched for a story that truly understands the darkness—and dares to find light—this is it.
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
Key Issues
Dating violence
What it’s about
A powerful story about a teen girl who falls for possessive and physically violent boyfriend after her sister runs away.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Sometimes, it was just a little rough: a blocking bruise. Other times, a hard foul. And if things were really bad—full contact.” ― Sarah Dessen from Dreamland
I've read a couple Sarah Dessen books that were "okay," but wow, this one really, really grabbed me!
It starts when Caitlin's sister, Cass, runs away. I knew the story was about relationship abuse, and I was expecting the runaway sister Cass to be with a bad guy, but no. After she disappears, Caitlin falls for a guy named Rogerson who ends up being the abusive one. Caitlin's downward spiral is emotional, realistic, and heartbreaking. From the first time Rogerson hits her, I kept waiting for someone to intervene or for her to wake up, but it went on and on until the climactic moment when something had to shatter.
I felt really bad for Caitlin. She seemed invisible to everyone who supposedly loved her. She was hiding her pain in front of everyone. And people she loved kept leaving her: first her sister Cass and then her new friend Corinna.
If you like the issue-driven fiction and want to explore YA books about tough topics like dating violence and abuse, Dreamland is one of my favorites. And for more books like this, check out my list Which Powerful YA Books about Abuse and Relationship Violence Should You Read Next.
Hollow Beauty by Khristina Chess
Key Issues
Eating disorders
What it’s about
Prom should be magic, but when her date tells her to lose weight, Olivia’s quest for perfection pulls her into a toxic spiral of extreme dieting and exercising - until one boy helps her see herself clearly again.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“I’d always called my body ‘athletic.’ Words like ‘stocky’ and ‘muscular’ described my figure. I was the fastest girl on the track and cross country teams. Muscular, stocky girls weren’t beautiful, though. Skinny girls were. Girls like Erica Miller.” ― Khristina Chess from Hollow Beauty
If you’ve ever suffered the pain of unkind criticism, Hollow Beauty is for you. This authentic novel explores the slippery slope of pro-ana culture and the brutal consequences of chasing perfection. What makes Hollow Beauty special is the realistic portrayal of how Olivia falls into the self-esteem trap of trying to change herself for someone else. I loved seeing her journey and choices as the events escalated toward the story’s climax.
The story starts with a casual criticism from a cute boy: maybe you could use the next two months before prom to lose some weight.
That’s right. When tall, gorgeous Brody asks Olivia to prom, she’s ecstatic—until he suggests that she go on a diet!
What starts as a few skipped meals spirals into a dangerous obsession—hours spent scrolling thinspo forums, tracking calories like a lifeline, and watching the number on the scale plummet. The more weight she sheds, the more she disappears.
Ross, the new prep cook at the diner, sees her differently. He doesn’t suffer the same suffocating self-doubt, and the only time Olivia feels like herself is when she’s riding dirt bikes and cave-hunting with him. But with Brody, romance feels more like devour or be devoured.
She’s almost perfect for prom. Almost thin enough.
Until the unthinkable happens.
I highly recommend this thought-provoking YA novel about the issue of eating disorders. It shines a harsh but necessary light on the world of anorexia and excessive exercise. Worth the read!
One Big Mess by Melody Loomis
Key Issues
Divorce & mental illness (hoarding disorder)
What it’s about
An unusual story about teen living with a single, divorced parent who is grieving the loss of a child and copes through hoarding.
Why I Love It - Book Review
One Big Mess is one big surprise!
Gracie is a teen living with a single parent who is grieving the loss of a child and copes through hoarding. The mess is overwhelming. Gracie is such an optimistic and hopeful girl who devises a plan to help her mom by trying to get her onto a reality TV show for hoarders. She's convinced that the show has the resources to provide therapy and cleanup that her mom won't take from Gracie and her sister.
I loved Gracie's character and her relationships with her friends, sister, and parents. I was rooting for her and her mom to find some way to clean things up.
If you’re looking for an unexpected and thoughtful YA book about mental illness that addresses hoarding disorder, you should definitely pick up this one.
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
Key Issues
Disfigurement
What it’s about
Terra Cooper doesn’t have a body image problem; the problem is the birthmark on her cheek the size of Texas.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Flawed, we're truly interesting, truly memorable, and yes, truly beautiful.” ― Justina Chen, quote from North of Beautiful
Terra Cooper is blonde, beautiful, talented as an artist, and she’s fit. The problem is her face.
For me, this novel was a slow burn because of the complexity of the family relationships and the distance Terra had to travel to find her way. It’s not an easy road for her. Mid-way, a light begins to shine, and through a geography change to China and a series of maps and geocaching experiences, Terra begins a journey. There is a romantic interest. In the end she discovers acceptance, self-healing, and the real meaning of beauty.
This lovely YA book about disfigurement shows that sometimes a flaw isn’t a flaw after all.
Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Key Issues
Illness & mortality, friendship
What it’s about
A quirky and hilarious amateur filmmaker sets out with his friend to make a movie about a dying girl—which fails spectacularly.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“We used to be pretty good friends, but fourteen-year-old girls are psychotic.” ― Jesse Andrews from Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
I loved this book. It was so comical, which is an odd thing to say about a book about a girl dying from cancer. But it’s true. It’s sad humor in the face of tragedy.
Greg and Earl are weird, unlikely friends and amateur filmmakers who manage to fly below the radar at school and enjoy their private world. Then Greg’s mom makes him reach out to Rachel, a childhood friend who has been diagnosed with leukemia and needs a friend.
Earl turns out to be the more compassionate of the pair, and the two of them set out to make a movie about Rachel. Their brilliant idea fails in execution and is the Worst Film Ever Made.
This wonderful novel is full of crude humor, heart, honesty, and surprises as Greg learns things about his long-time friend Earl, as well as himself, though this journey with the dying girl, Rachel. If you’re looking for some YA books about tough topics related to illness & mortality, Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl is definitely a title to add to your reading list. You can also find more like this one at my list Which Thoughtful YA Books about Disabilities, Illnesses, and Disorders Should You Read Next.
Unquiet Riot by Khristina Chess
Key Issues
Mental illness, bullying, & school violence
What it’s about
In response to aggressive and physical bullying, a teenage psychopath and his friend with early-onset schizophrenia spiral into a deadly game of lies, loyalty, and violence in this explosive psychological thriller.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Best friends don’t label each other as crazy or rat each other out to adults.” ― Khristina Chess from Unquiet Riot
Riley isn’t a psychopath—he just doesn’t feel emotions.
Embarrassment, insecurity, suspicion—it’s all mysterious. He’s learned to read faces, but they never match the words people say.
Then Henry arrives. Henry is fascinating. Henry is dangerous. He believes the world is crawling with robot impostors, that shadows escape from electrical wires, that knives beneath his mattress will keep the monsters away. For Riley, stepping into Henry’s world is like visiting a foreign country—thrilling, unpredictable, alive.
When Henry vanishes, the police come knocking. And Riley lies.
Now it’s a game. If Henry talks, Riley loses.
Chilling and compulsive, Unquiet Riot is a mind-bending YA thriller that unravels friendship, deception, and the disturbing factors that allow tragedy to unfold. With an unforgettable unreliable narrator and a slow-burn descent into chaos, this is a must-read for anyone drawn to stories exploring the psychology of school violence.
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Key Issues
First love & dating
What it’s about
A sweet and heartbreaking story of first love between two weird loners.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“I just can’t believe that life would give us to each other,” he said, “and then take it back.”
“I can,” she said. “Life’s a bastard.” ― Rainbow Rowell from Eleanor and Park
It's been a long time since I've encountered a novel that I literally couldn't put down. Eleanor & Park was one of those books. I loved every minute. I sat on the porch, on the couch, on the floor by the window... and devoured this book. It was a wonderful reading experience about first love. Sweet and heartbreaking and everything I wanted. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, romantic young love story.
The story unfolds from alternating points of view, both Eleanor and Park, as they fall in love over the course of one year. The dialog is witty, snappy, and fun.
As a super-dreamy YA book about teen issues like dating and intimacy, it will give you all the feels. For more books like this, check out Which Dreamy YA Books about Dating, Intimacy, and Sex Should You Read Next.
Other YA Books about Teens Facing Tough Problems
If you are looking for other YA books about teens facing tough problems, check out the Best Teen Books about Real Problems and Teen Books about Real Problems lists on Goodreads.
You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of reviews of YA books by type of tough topic.
Author Bio
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of more than a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Her novel about eating disorders, Hollow Beauty, was named a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, dystopian, and adventure.
In a recent interview from her alma mater, she described how her experience in the creative writing program prepared her for success.
