May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we think a great way to honor it is by reading books that feature characters on their mental health journeys. Today, we’ve curated a list of five book recommendations that offer a variety of perspectives and insights about mental health. Whether you’re seeking inspiration or just a good read, these books have something for everyone.
Content warning: The Honey POP encourages mindful reading and always checking the author’s website for any additional content warnings.
The Night Fox By Ashley Wilda
Our first book takes place on a remote mountain mental health retreat for teens where Eli wants nothing more than to leave. After having her heart broken, she’s determined to pretend to be “fine,” so the program’s leader will send her home. But not everything is as it seems, and with each outing, the valley plays with her mind and brings up grief-filled memories. Ignoring the warning signs, Eli ventures into the dangerous night realm. The Night Fox uses both prose and poetry to tell this story of grief, depression, love, and healing.
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Content Warnings: panic attacks, religious bigotry, suicidal thoughts, toxic relationship
Cancelled By Farrah Penn
Cancelled is about a girl named Brynn who, between her thriving “flirt coach” business and her grades to get into her dream university, is having a great senior year. That is, until a video from a party makes Brynn the center of attention for all the wrong reasons. She knows she isn’t the girl in the video hooking up with her former best friend’s boyfriend, but with her reputation of being a serial dater, everyone else does. Now Brynn and her friends are determined to find out who the person in the video really was, but is it worth everything she’s worked so hard for? This story talks about the impact of others’ words and is the journey toward building self-esteem, and what feminism truly is.
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Content Warnings: sexism, misogyny, body shaming, fatphobia
Pieces Of A Girl By Stephanie Kuehnert
Our next book recommendation for Mental Health Awareness Month is Pieces of a Girl, a multi-media YA memoir that deals with the topics of abuse and addiction. Following the years before she became a published author, Stephanie Kuehnert uses a variety of formats, including journal entries, illustrations, and pages from her actual teenage diaries, to detail her experience of substance and relationship abuse.
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Content Warnings: self-harm, sexual assault, suicidal thoughts
Putting Balloons On A Wall Is Not a Book: Inspirational Advice (And Non-Advice) for Life From @blcksmth By Michael James Schneider
Putting Balloons on a Wall is Not a Book features many iconic posts from the viral balloon-word artist and Instagram sensation Michael James Schneider (@blcksmth). Including balloon, flower, and light installations, Michael spreads inspiring messages of self-love and growth, along with advice.
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Puzzled: A Memoir About Growing Up With OCD By Pan Cooke
If you love graphic novels, then Puzzled: A Memoir about Growing Up with OCD is for you! It’s a memoir where author Pan Cooke details his experiences growing up with undiagnosed OCD. When he was ten years old, he had many anxious thoughts that could only be calmed through exhausting, time-consuming rituals. What he didn’t know is that he had Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This graphic novel details his story about living with and learning about OCD. Puzzled demonstrates the importance of empathy for oneself and others.
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Content Warnings: ableism, bullying
We hope you’ve enjoyed our book recommendations for Mental Health Awareness Month! By reading books like these this month and every month, we can learn more about mental health and how to best support yourself and your loved ones.
What books are you planning on reading this month? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter @thehoneypop!
Want more book recs? We’ve got just the thing!
