Summer Reading: 19 Children’s Books with Mental Health Themes
This summer, is one of your goals to talk with your child about taking care of their mental health? If so, our list of mental health-themed books for kids aged 8+ can assist. Here is the complete list of books touching on mental health that Menderist has covered over the past year. These 19 titles:
- were chosen by children’s book specialists as suitable for parents and children to read and discuss together
- are primarily for pre- to early teens, an age group chosen because (leading organizations) estimate that 13 to 20%* of mental health problems start as of the early adolescent years of 11 to 14.
In reaching out to children’s book specialists for recommendations, we asked for titles that have mental health themes; have been published in the past couple of years; received mostly positive reviews; and address common issues for pre-adolescent children today. Examples of topics include social media use; body image; anxiety; and friendship and communication.
Complete List of 20 Book Picks
Here is our list of 19 children’s books, and a book for parents and caregivers, that we have recommended since Summer 2024. We have categorized the children’s books by reader age and included links to writeups that give more information about each title.
Ages 8 to 11
Give and Take is a fiction novel by Elly Swartz. Maggie, 12, is the main character who works through many challenges, including anxiety and hoarding behaviors. (More information: 2024 article)
Ages 8 to 12
Lost Kites and Other Treasures is a fiction novel by Cathy Carr. Franny is 12 and lives with her grandmother. When her grandmother hurts her leg, Franny learns to navigate many changes. (More information: 2024 article)
Living with Viola is a graphic novel by Rosena Fung. Sixth grader Olivia starts at a new school, and struggles with anxiety and wanting to fit in. (More information: 2024 article)
Like a Duck is a work of fiction by Deborah Kerbel. Twelve-year-old Sarah is attending a cooking camp but doesn’t know many of the other kids. Then Webster, her emotional support animal, goes missing. (More information: 2024 article)
AWOL is a graphic novel by Marla Lesage. The book explores 11-year-old Leah’s experiences with her father’s PTSD. (More information: 2025 article)
Picture Day is a graphic novel by Sarah Sax. Seventh-grader Viv becomes so preoccupied with her image and social media presence that she ignores her real-life friends. (More information: 2024 article)
Dear Student is a fiction novel by Elly Swartz. Autumn is a sixth grader selected to be the anonymous ‘expert’ who answers an advice column in her school newspaper. (More information: 2024 article)
The Kate in Between is a fiction novel by Claire Swinarski. Kate is 12 years old and is dealing with her decisions around cliques, popularity, and a video of herself that went viral. (More information: 2024 article)
Finally Heard is a fiction novel by Kelly Yang. Ten-year-old Lina and her sister post some videos to help their mom promote her new business. But seeing others’ lavish lifestyles and exclusive events upsets Lina. (More information: 2024 article)
Ages 9 to 12
Valley of the Rats is a fantasy/mystery written by Mahtab Narsimhan. Twelve-year-old Krish Roy travels to a wilderness camp with his photographer father. A challenging hike causes Krish, who is a germaphobe, to confront his fears about the unpredictability of the outdoors.(More information: 2024 article)
Ages 9 to 13
Confessions of a Class Clown is a fiction novel by Arianne Costner. Jack is in seventh grade. His YouTube channel is popular, but Jack has challenges with making and keeping friends.(More information: 2024 article)
Starfish is a novel in verse by Lisa Fipps. The main character is Ellie, who’s 12 and dealing with issues related to image and body size. (More information: 2024 article)
The Wrong Way Home is a fiction book by Kate O’Shaughnessy. The plot focuses on 12-year-old Fern and her mother, who leave a cult. (More information: 2025 article)
Ages 10 to 12
Everywhere Blue is a novel in verse by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz. Twelve-year-old Maddie experiences anxiety and compulsive behaviors. She faces new challenges when her beloved older brother goes missing. (More information: 2024 article)
Ages 10 to 13
Game Face is a novel by Shari Green. Jonah is in grade eight and is highly anxious. He is still dealing with the death of his mother some years before. (More information: 2025 article)
Ages 10 to 14
Is There A Boy Like Me? is a fiction novel by Kern Carter. London is 13 and is a talented artist. London struggles to be himself, because most friends only focus on his basketball and gaming abilities. (More information: 2025 article)
Not Nothing is a fiction book by Gayle Forman. Alex is a 12-year-old boy who gets into trouble and is required to do community service at a retirement home. He meets Josey, a survivor of World War II, and learns important lessons about friendship and loss. (More information: 2025 article)
Thanks a Lot, Universe is a fiction novel written by Chad Lucas. The two main characters are Brian and Ezra: 13-year-old boys who become friends and support one another as they discover their true identities. (More information: 2024 article)
Ages 11 to 18
Louder Than Hunger by John Schu is a novel in verse. The book is about a 13-year-old boy, Jake, who is working through body image issues and an eating disorder. (More information: 2025 article)
A Book for Parents and Caregivers
Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents —and What They Mean for America’s Future, is a non-fiction book by Jean M. Twenge. “Parents and other adults seeking to understand the challenges of the younger generation, particularly related to social media, will likely find parts of the Generation Z section within this non-fiction book helpful,” notes Abbie Werner James. (More information: 2024 article)
Contributors
Thanks go to the children’s book specialists who suggested the titles for 2024-2025. Abbie Werner James is a Licensed Behavior Specialist working in youth services at a public library, who reads and writes fiction for middle grade children. Helen Kubiw runs the blog, CanLit for Little Canadians, and is a retired teacher-librarian. And a new contributor as of the Spring book suggestions is Spencer Miller, Digital Media Coordinator for The Canadian Children’s Book Centre.
