National Wellness Month: Books for Young Adults

Updated July 16, 2026
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(Don't) call me crazy : 33 voices start the conversation about mental health
Jensen, Kelly
Paper Book
A Washington Post Best Children's Book of 2018 Who's Crazy? What does it mean to be crazy? Is using the word crazy offensive? What happens when a label like that gets attached to your everyday experiences? To understand mental health, we need to talk openly about it. Because there's no single...
All the stars align
Schreiber, Gretchen
Paper Book
All the Stars Align is the magical love story that is Taylor Swift's Enchanted meets Cyrano, from the author of Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal. All the women in Piper's family know their true love at first sight, complete with butterflies, heart eyes, and a gut...
I am made of death
Andrew, Kelly
Paper Book
A girl whose voice is deadlier than poison. A boy who loves all her monstrous parts. From bestselling author Kelly Andrew comes the most seductive dark romance of the decade. When Thomas Walsh is offered a highly paid position as an interpreter for an...
I Am the Cage
Grant, Allison Sweet
Paper Book
"I Am the Cage gives resounding voice to the voiceless." -The Associated Press "Powerful.″ -Booklist, starred review "Visceral, wrenching, and beautiful." -John Green, #1 bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down and The...
The Anxiety Club: How to Survive Modern Life
Fanget Frederic
Paper Book
In The Anxiety Club we are introduced to three characters, each with a different form of anxiety. After hearing their stories, we follow them into the therapy room where they discover the behavioral, cognitive and emotional tools to help free themselves from anxious thinking. Many people believe...
Be Yourself and Other Bad Advice: A Teen Girl's Guide to Unlearning the Rules
Walker, Meredith
Paper Book
Teen girls learn rules all the time, even if many of them go unsaid. Be yourself! But don't be weird! Hustle hard-your future depends on it! You're only young once-enjoy it! But no one talks about the life skill they need to navigate all those rules: how to think for themselves.
Beneath the surface : a teen's guide to reaching out when you or your friend is in crisis
Hugstad, Kristi
Paper Book
YOU DON'T HAVE TO COPE ALONE Depression and mental illness don't discriminate. Even in the most picture-perfect life, confusion and turmoil are often lurking beneath the surface. For a teenager in a world where anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses are commonplace, life can...
Better with books : 500 diverse books to ignite empathy and encourage self-acceptance in tweens and teens
Hart, Melissa
Paper Book
Featuring 500 diverse book recommendations covering a wide range of subjects, this preteen and teen reading guide is a "go-to resource for parents, students of young adult literature, teachers, and librarians" (School Library Journal). Needed now more than ever- a guide...
A bird in the air means we can still breathe
Browne, Mahogany L.
Paper Book
LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD . A powerful, genre-bending mosaic of fiction and poetry that celebrates the humanity, grace, and resilience of teenage New Yorkers riding out the pandemic-from the award-winning author of Chlorine Sky "A gorgeous, tender testament...
Braiding sweetgrass for young adults : indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the teachings of plants
Kimmerer, Robin Wall
Paper Book
I could hand you a braid of sweetgrass as thick and shining as the braid that hung down my grandmother's back. But it is not mine to give, nor yours to take. Wiingaashk belongs to herself. I offer, in her place, a braid of stories meant to heal our relationship with the world. As a...
Breathe : journeys to healthy binding
Kobabe, Maia
Paper Book
The bestselling author of Gender Queer presents an illustrated guide to chest binding, blending real-life stories and research-backed advice from University of Michigan professor Sarah Peitzmeier. "A unique, thoughtful, and evidence-based book perfect for individuals of any...
Bunk 9's Guide to Growing Up : Secrets, Tips, and Expert Advice on the Good, the Bad, and the Awkward
Nuchi, Adah/ Hunt, Meg (ILT)
Paper Book
CONGRATS! YOU HAVE FOUND "THE BOOK"! Filled with facts, tips, advice, and illustrations, BUNK 9'S GUIDE TO GROWING UP is the girl-powered puberty book you'll actually want to read. Written in the voice of the counselors in training at the fictional Camp Silver Moon, it's like...
Channel kindness : stories of kindness and community
Born This Way Foundation
Paper Book
A New York Times Bestseller For Lady Gaga, kindness is the driving force behind everything she says and does. The quiet power of kindness can change the way we view one another, our communities, and even ourselves. She embodies this mission, and through her...
Dead Happy
Silver, Josh
Paper Book
The experiment continues in the dark and disturbingly thrilling conclusion to the HappyHead duology where Seb will find the secret to escaping is more heart-wrenching than he ever imagined.   Seb was sure surviving the experimental health center of HappyHead would be enough...
Devils like us
Thompson, Lin
Paper Book
"This is a tightly constructed adventure, told from three alternating points of view, and each protagonist is wonderfully realized and fully sympathetic. The second volume in this story comes out later this year and I've already pre-ordered it!" - Rick Riordan A Stonewall...
Disability visibility : 17 first-person stories for today : adapted for young adults
Wong, Alice (EDT)
Paper Book
Disabled young people will be proud to see themselves reflected in this hopeful, compelling, and insightful essay collection, adapted for young adults from the critically acclaimed adult book, Disability Visibility: First Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century that "sheds light on...
Dust
Stine, Alison
Paper Book
"An immediate classic that holds its own alongside the greats of American Literature, Dust brings the haunting echoes of our past to a weather-beaten future. Every word of Dust is as familiar as a childhood friend. You understand--instantly--that you will carry it with you for...
The Emotionally Intelligent Teen : Skills to Help You Deal With What You Feel, Build Stronger Relationships, and Boost Self-confidence
Mcnally, Melanie
Paper Book
Build a solid foundation for mental health and wellness with this fun and engaging guide--just for teens! Do you ever feel misunderstood? Do you get upset easily, or struggle to manage difficult thoughts and feelings like sadness, anger, frustration, or worry? Does it feel like...
Eve : how the female body shaped human evolution
Bohannon, Cat
Paper Book
The groundbreaking New York Times bestseller is now adapted for young adults!  This is the 200-million-year story of how the female body gave rise to the human species and forever shaped life on Earth and what that means for us in the future. Why do women live longer...
Every body shines : sixteen stories about living fabulously fat
Newbould, Cassandra
Paper Book
An intersectional, feminist YA anthology from some of today's most exciting voices across a span of genres, all celebrating body diversity and fat acceptance through short stories. A Junior Library Guild Selection Fat girls and boys and nonbinary teens are:...
Feminist Af : A Guide to Crushing Girlhood
Cooper, Brittney/ Tanner, Chanel Craft/ Morris, Susana
Paper Book
A Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2021 Hip-hop and feminism combine in this empowering guide with attitude, from best-selling author Brittney Cooper and founding members of the Crunk Feminist Collective. Loud and rowdy girls, quiet and...
Finding normal
Doktorski, Jennifer Salvato.
Paper Book
There are five towns in the U.S. named " Normal" and seventeen-year-old Gemma Leonardo plans on visiting every one of them. Right after she escapes Children' s Hospital in Harrisburg, where she' s being treated for anorexia. Enter Lucas Polizzi, a high school wrestler with bulimia and, more...
Fitting Indian
Chand, Jyoti
Paper Book
This debut teen graphic novel from social media influencer Jyoti Chand and rising star illustrator Tara Anand follows one girl's journey navigating high school and her mental health within a traditional South Asian family. Perfect for fans of Netflix's Never Have I...
Girl : love, sex, romance, and being you
Rayne, Karen
Paper Book
A guide for teen girls covering healthy sexuality, loving relationships, gender fluidity, sexually transmitted infections (STI), consent, sexual assault, and more. Chicago Public Library's 2017 Best of the Best Books List for Teen Nonfiction! Welcoming and inclusive of all self...
The girl guide
Ibrahim, Marawa
Paper Book
For every tween girl wondering about her changing body and changing brain, this funny and highly illustrated guide is the answer. Packed with advice about everything from periods to bras to body hair--PLUS tips on how to deal with crushes, new emotions, and all the chaos in between! ...
The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar
Reyes, Sonora.
Paper Book
2026 Schneider Family Book Awards Honor 2026 Américas Award Commended Title "This is Sonora Reyes at their absolute best." -- Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys From bestselling author Sonora Reyes comes a poignant...
Helloflo : the guide, period
Bloom, Naama
Paper Book
When will I get boobs? Does wearing a tampon hurt? What's the deal with menstrual cups? Seriously, when will I get boobs? There's no doubt that going through puberty is one of the scariest, messiest, and most confusing times in a girl's life. It's no wonder there are so many questions....
Here I am, I am me : an illustrated guide to mental health
Bean, Cara
Paper Book
This colorful graphic novel adventure through the brain demystifies and destigmatizes emotional and mental health for children through accessible language and lessons. Join author-illustrator Cara Bean in Here I Am, I Am Me, as she takes readers on an...
High : everything you want to know about drugs, alcohol, and addiction
Sheff, David
Paper Book
Just Say Know! With drug education for children more important than ever, this nonfiction book draws on the experiences of the NY Times bestselling father/son team of David and Nic Sheff to provide all the information teens and tweens need to know about drugs, alcohol, and addiction.
Hope nation : YA authors share personal moments of inspiration
Brock, Rose
Paper Book
Hope is a decision, but it is a hard one to recognize in the face of oppression, belittlement, alienation, and defeat. To help embolden hope, here is a powerhouse collection of essays and letters that speak directly to teens and all YA readers. Featuring Marie Lu, James Dashner, Gayle Forman,...
How to college : what to know before you go (and when you're there)
Brenner, Andrea
Paper Book
The first practical guide of its kind that helps students transition smoothly from high school to college The transition from high school--and home--to college can be stressful. Students and parents often arrive on campus unprepared for what college is really like. Academic...
Introverts: Insights and Tips for Teenagers
Cognevich, Christie
Paper Book
A must-read book for introverted teenagers to help them understand and harness their incredible skill set that School Library Journal says is an "insightful and affirming resource for understanding introverts, providing both depth and breadth in its exploration." ...
It Won't Ever Be the Same: A Teen's Guide to Grief and Grieving
Leigh, Korie
Paper Book
Help young people name, express, and give shape to their grief with this book on grieving for teens. Whether teens are in the midst of their first grief experience or have experienced grief before, It Won't Ever Be the Same is designed to support them. Reflections, analogies,...
It's perfectly normal : changing bodies, growing up, sex, gender, and sexual health
Harris, Robie H.
Paper Book
Fully and fearlessly updated, this vital new edition of the acclaimed book on sex, sexuality, bodies, and puberty deserves a spot in every family's library. With more than 1.5 million copies in print, It's Perfectly Normal has been a trusted resource on sexuality for more...
Killing the Wittigo : indigenous culture-based approaches to waking up, taking action, and doing the work of healing : a book for young adults
Methot, Suzanne
Paper Book
An unflinching reimagining of Legacy: Trauma, Story, and Indigenous Healing for young adults Written specifically for young adults, reluctant readers, and literacy learners, Killing the Wittigo explains the traumatic effects of colonization on Indigenous people and...
Let's talk about it : the teen's guide to sex, relationships, and being a human
Moen, Erika
Paper Book
Is what I'm feeling normal? Is what my body is doing normal? Am I normal? How do I know what are the right choices to make? How do I know how to behave? How do I fix it when I make a mistake? Let's talk about it. Growing up is complicated. How do you...
The Life Skills Book for Teens : Everything You Need to Know to Be More Independent
Stiles, Maureen
Paper Book
Set yourself up for success as an adult--tips and advice for ages 16+ How do you create a budget? Clean a bathroom? Make a doctor's appointment? If you're feeling a little overwhelmed by the responsibilities of growing up, you're not alone--and the Life Skills Book for Teens is here to...
Love and Video Games
Sergi, Zachary
Paper Book
Ready Player One meets Heartstopper in which a myth-loving video game player discovers there isn't a cheat code to life--or love--while competing in a tournament with his handsome crush and gamer friends. In the real world, Keegan Thomas is a gay, eighteen-year...
Money for Adulting: Fun Tips and Financial Tricks for Teens
Hung, Michelle
Paper Book
It's never too early to make your money work for you! Discover how with this teen guide to financial health. You don't have to work on Wall Street to know that money is important. Learn to handle it responsibly with this teen guide to money skills that makes managing money more fun! It...
Never Seen the Stars
Korsh, Kate
Paper Book
The ethereal romance of Dustin Thao's You've Reached Sam meets The Fault in Our Stars' exploration of coming of age with a disability in a tragic yet uplifting story of love and grief. Hattie Murphy thinks the universe hates her. She has a secret: she has the same...
On the bright side
Sortino, Anna
Paper Book
A hopeful novel about love, disability, and the inevitability of change by the author of Give Me a Sign. "Poignant, romantic, and deeply heartfelt." -Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be Ellie's Deaf boarding...
Out! : how to be your authentic self
McKenna, Miles
Paper Book
Miles McKenna is a queer and trans activist. He transitioned online in front of a million people. This is his survival guide. When Miles came out on his YouTube channel in 2015--then transitioned online in 2017--his aim was to help other teens navigate their...
Period power : a manifesto for the menstrual movement
Okamoto, Nadya
Paper Book
PERIOD founder and Harvard College student Nadya Okamoto offers a manifesto on menstruation and why we can no longer silence those who bleed--and how to engage in youth activism. Throughout history, periods have been hidden from the public. They're taboo. They're embarrassing....
Positively teen : a practical guide to a more positive, more confident you
Morgan, Nicola
Paper Book
An uplifting and optimistic guide to navigating the ups and downs of teen years and preparing for adulthood. Author Nicola Morgan is an international expert on teen development and mental health. During her talks to parents of pre-teens, she immediately...
The resilient teen : 10 key skills to bounce back from setbacks and turn stress into success
Raja, Sheela
Paper Book
"Well researched and up to date, including the acknowledgement of teens' struggles with the Covid-19 pandemic.... Belongs on every young adult's bookshelf." --Kirkus Reviews (starred) 10 powerful skills to help you manage stress, bounce back from difficult...
Rookie on love : 45 voices on romance, friendship, and self-care
Gevinson, Tavi
Paper Book
A single-subject anthology about the heart's most powerful emotion, edited by Tavi Gevinson. Featuring exclusive, never-before-seen essays, poems, comics, and interviews from contributors like Jenny Zhang, Emma Straub, Hilton Als, Janet Mock, John Green, Rainbow Rowell, Gabourey Sidibe, Mitski,...
Seeing gender : an illustrated guide to identity and expression
Gottlieb, Iris
Paper Book
Seeing Gender is an of-the-moment investigation into how we express and understand the complexities of gender today. Deeply researched and fully illustrated, this book demystifies an intensely personal--yet universal--facet of humanity. Illustrating a different concept on each spread, queer...
The self-esteem habit for teens : 50 simple ways to build your confidence every day
Schab, Lisa M.
Paper Book
Make self-esteem a habit, every day. Written by Lisa Schab, author of Self-Esteem for Teens, The Self-Esteem Habit for Teens offers 50 simple, positive thoughts and immediate actions to help you "perceive it, believe it, achieve it!" When it comes to cultivating...
The self-love revolution : radical body positivity for girls of color
Tovar, Virgie
Paper Book
"A terrific resource that shows readers how to start feeling good about their body and rewire their sense of self-worth." --School Library Journal starred review It's time to ditch harmful, outdated beauty standards and build real, lasting body positivity. It...
Sensory : life on the spectrum : an autistic comic anthology
Ollerton, Bex
Paper Book
A colorful and eclectic comics anthology exploring a wide range of experiences in autism presented by autistic artists, from diagnosis journeys to finding community. From artist and curator Bex Ollerton comes an anthology featuring comics from thirty autistic creators about their...
The smart girl's guide to going vegetarian : how to look great, feel fabulous, and be a better you
Warren, Rachel Meltzer
Paper Book
Treating your body right is a radical act of self-love The Smart Girl's Guide to Going Vegetarian is an inclusive guide-written by a nutritionist-for young people looking to learn more about what they put in their bodies and how food can be used to practice self-care, mindfulness,...
Solving for the unknown : a novel
Le, Loan
Paper Book
"A sweet love story of self-discovery and mutual support" (Kirkus Reviews), this slice-of-life companion to A Pho Love Story follows two Vietnamese American students who find themselves at a crossroads--between family expectations, personal identity, and relationships.
The spectrum girl's survival guide : how to grow up awesome and autistic
Castellon, Siena
Ebook
Moonbeam Children's Book Awards - Silver Medal Winner Nautilus Silver Book Award Winner Purple Dragonfly Book Awards - First Place "Never be ashamed of being different: it is this difference that makes you extraordinary and unique." This...
The talk : conversations about race, love & truth
Hudson, Wade
Paper Book
Thirty diverse, award-winning authors and illustrators invite you intotheir homes to witnesstheconversationsthey have withtheir children about race in America today in this powerful call-to-action that invites all families to be anti-racists and advocates for change. "Project s love...
The Teenage Guide to Digital Wellbeing: Find the Balance to Live Your Best Life
Goodin, Tanya
Paper Book
The ultimate guide to digital wellbeing and living your best life - offline and on! Digital wellbeing is all about finding the balance between the digital world and the real world - and making sure we use smartphones and other digital devices in a healthy way, while living fulfilling...
This moth saw brightness
Vacharat, A. A.
Paper Book
A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR * A weird and revelatory novel that vividly captures the dislocation of growing up BIPOC and neurodivergent in a country awash in both conspiracy theories and genuine conspiracies. "This funny, insightful debut about mental illness,...
Trans+ : love, sex, romance, and being you
Gonzales, Kathryn
Paper Book
This groundbreaking, all-inclusive, uncensored, must-have guide is for teens who identify as transgender, nonbinary, gender non-conforming, gender fluid, or are questioning their gender identity or how they express themselves, and for their cis-allies and advocates. Gender is hard. Really...
The unexpected consequence of bleeding on a Tuesday
Toney, Kelsey B.
Paper Book
Delia Bridges is striving to become the compassionate doctor she's been unable to find in her journey to diagnose her excruciating period pain--but when a single rule-breaking incident jeopardizes her future, she must find a way to reclaim her dreams in this funny, period-positive novel.
Visitations
Egbert, Corey
Paper Book
Inspired by true events, this haunting yet hopeful young adult graphic novel weaves together family dynamics, mental illness, and religion--perfect for fans of Hey, Kiddo. Corey's mom has always made him feel safe. Especially after his parents' divorce, and the dreaded...
What does consent really mean?
Wallis, Pete
Paper Book
"Consent is not the absence of 'NO', it is an enthusiastic YES!!" While seemingly straightforward, Tia and Bryony hadn't considered this subject too seriously until it comes up in conversation with their friends and they realise just how important it is. Following the...
You don't have to be everything : poems for girls becoming themselves
Whitney, Diana (EDT)/ Gonzalez, Cristina (ILT)/ Mockford, Kate (ILT)/ Singleton, Stephanie (ILT)
Paper Book
Poems to Turn to Again and Again - from Amanda Gorman, Sharon Olds, Kate Baer, and More   Created and compiled just for young women, You Don't Have to Be Everything is filled with works by a wide range of poets who are honest,...
You Were Made for This World: Celebrated Indigenous Voices Speak to Young People
Sinclair, Stephanie
Paper Book
FOUR STARRED REVIEWS! * A joyful, proud and groundbreaking collection of letters and art for young people, You Were Made for This World brings together celebrated Indigenous voices from across Turtle Island. Every young person deserves the chance to feel like they belong,...

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