Books About Mental Health for Middle & High School Students

Incorporating books about mental health into your middle and high school ELA curriculum or classroom library can help students process their emotions, develop tools for coping, reduce stigma, promote improved self esteem, and build empathy. Diverse narratives about mental health in literature can also help students realize that they are not alone and that they can seek support. 

Here are a few middle grade and YA books to consider adding to your curriculum or classroom library: 

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson

The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller

Unstuck by Barbara Dee

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

Please Pay Attention by Jamie Sumner

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya

Drawing Deena by Hena Khan

Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand

Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram