Mental Health
Recommended titles for an inclusive collection
Imagine a world in which all children can see themselves in the pages of a book. --We Need Diverse Books
This past summer, the Library Service's Collection Development team created equity carts for elementary, middle and high schools of highly recommended, inclusive titles. It is our goal to immerse students in books that cultivate empathy and reflect all students' unique identities and experiences.
You can view our selections here.
ELEMENTARY READS
ME AND MY FEAR BY FRANCESCA SANNA
When a young immigrant girl has to travel to a new country and start at a new school, she is accompanied by her Fear who tells her to be alone and afraid, growing bigger and bigger every day with questions like "how can you hope to make new friends if you don't understand their language?" But this little girl is stronger than her Fear. A heart-warming and timely tale from the bestselling author and illustrator of The Journey, this book shows us the importance of sharing your Fear with others--after all, everyone carries a Fear with them, even if it's small enough to fit into their pocket! --Publisher
FOR BLACK GIRLS LIKE ME BY MARIAMA J. LOCKINGTON
In this lyrical coming-of-age story about family, sisterhood, music, race, and identity, Mariama J. Lockington draws on some of the emotional truths from her own experiences growing up with an adoptive white family.
For Black Girls Like Me is for anyone who has ever asked themselves: How do you figure out where you are going if you don't know where you came from? --Publisher
SCIENCE OF BREAKABLE THINGS BY TAE KELLER
Available in Sora.
MIDDLE SCHOOL READS
SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES BY ELLEN WITTLINGER
Available in Sora.
Twelve-year-old Izzy's life just seems to get more and more complicated: she is upset by her father's new marriage, and a new baby on the way; she is expected to look out for her ten-year-old cousin, Oliver, who has moved in with her family since his mother committed suicide, because his father is depressed and having trouble coping; and now Ben, the rebellious sixteen-year-old son of Izzy's mother's boyfriend, is also living with them--but when Oliver's father disappears, the three children put aside their differences and set out to find him. --Publisher
WHERE THE WATERMELON GROWS BY CINDY BALDWIN
Available in Sora.
Twelve-year-old Della Kelly of Maryville, North Carolina, tries to come to terms with her mother's mental illness while her father struggles to save the farm from a record-breaking drought.
But when the Bee Lady says that the solution might have less to do with fixing Mama's brain and more to do with healing her own heart, Della must learn that love means accepting her mama just as she is. --Publisher
HURRICANE SEASON BY NICOLE MELLEBY
Available in Sora.
Eleven-year-old Fig enrolls in an art class to better understand her father, a composer and pianist whose mental illness she tries to conceal from classmates, neighbors, and social services.
Nicole Melleby's Hurricane Season is a radiant and tender novel about taking risks and facing danger, about friendship and art, and about growing up and coming out. And more than anything else, it is a story about love--both its limits and its incredible healing power. --Publisher
HIGH SCHOOL READS
ELIZA AND HER MONSTERS BY FRANCESCA ZAPPIA
Available in Sora.
In the real world, Eliza Mirk is shy, weird, and friendless. Online, Eliza is LadyConstellation, anonymous creator of a popular webcomic called Monstrous Sea. With millions of followers and fans throughout the world, Eliza's persona is popular. Eliza can't imagine enjoying the real world as much as she loves her digital community.
Then Wallace Warland transfers to her school and Eliza begins to wonder if a life offline might be worthwhile. But when Eliza's secret is accidentally shared with the world, everything she's built--her story, her relationship with Wallace, and even her sanity--begins to fall apart. --Publisher
(DON'T) CALL ME CRAZY: 33 VOICES START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH EDITED BY KELLY JENSEN
Available in Sora.
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?
In (Don't) Call Me Crazy, thirty-three actors, athletes, writers, and artists offer essays, lists, comics, and illustrations that explore a wide range of topics. --Publisher
ANGER IS A GIFT BY MARK OSHIRO
Available in Sora.
Moss Jeffries is many things--considerate student, devoted son, loyal friend and affectionate boyfriend, enthusiastic nerd.
But sometimes Moss still wishes he could be someone else--someone without panic attacks, someone whose father was still alive, someone who hadn't become a rallying point for a community because of one horrible night.
Moss can't even escape at school--he and his friends are subject to the lack of funds and crumbling infrastructure at West Oakland High, as well as constant intimidation by the resource officer stationed in their halls. That was even before the new regulations--it seems sometimes that the students are treated more like criminals.
Something will have to change--but who will listen to a group of teens? --Publisher
Need more resources for finding inclusive children's and YA literature related to mental health?
Affordable Counseling: Children and their families in DPS are eligible for short-term therapy services for only $5 per session. For more information click here.
#MHYALit social media discussion for Mental Health in Young Adult Lit
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 800-273-8255 and is available 24 hours everyday.
Safe2Tell Colorado: Parents and students, Safe2Tell Colorado offers anonymous reporting for ANYTHING that concerns you, your friends, your family or community. If you have any concerns whatsoever, call 1-877-542-7233 or submit a report online.
Why It's Important to Write About Mental Health in Fiction by Emma Newman
Denver Public Schools Library Services
Email: library_helpdesk@dpsk12.org
Website: https://lion.dpsk12.org
Location: 1617 S Acoma St., Denver CO
Phone: 7204231842