Here I Am, I Am Me: An Illustrated Guide to Mental Health

by Cara Bean

A full-color graphic novel-style adventure through the brain that demystifies and destigmatizes emotional and mental health for children ages 12 and up.

Join author-illustrator Cara Bean in Here I Am, I Am Me , as she takes readers on an illustrated journey to the center of the brain. Each of the 9 chapters explores a different aspect of mental health, from the brain and the mind, to feelings and emotions.    By portraying complex neuroscience concepts with a cast of illustrated characters (that represent parts of the brain), the book explains what is really going on in the reader’s head in an accessible, approachable way that ultimately serves to empower the reader.

Each chapter includes a “question map” that gives context to and helps frame the pages that follow as well as a “Bean Memory,” which shares a first-person true story that illustrates the chapter’s subject matter as it has played out in the author’s life.

The book doesn’t talk down to its readers, and it doesn’t pretend that teens are immune to mental health Cara Bean masterfully discusses crucial topics like depression, substance use and addiction, and suicide, all while equipping readers with mindfulness tips, specific resources, and empathetic affirmations. Readers will learn to destigmatize the conversation around mental health by reframing their thinking, learning how to use conscious language, and helping themselves and others through mental health dilemmas. 

Genres: Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Comics, Middle Grade, Psychology, Teen

288 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

Cara Bean is the author of Draw 500 Funny Faces and Features and taught art at Lexington High School in Massachusetts for twelve years. She has an MFA in Drawing and Painting from the University of Washington in Seattle and received a certificate in cartooning from the Sequential Artists Workshop in Gainesville, Florida.

She provides interactive workshops on creativity with people of all ages and backgrounds in various public forums. Cara is passionate about drawing and believes that the simple act of doodling on paper can lead to the investigation of complex ideas.

When she is not teaching, she makes comics that delve into poetic self-introspection, playful storytelling, and topics relevant to teens and teaching. Cara is currently working on comics projects that speak directly to kids and address mental health.

Cara lives in Massachusetts with her husband and their dog Raisin.

Reviews

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough about this comprehensive but never boring guide to mental health for kids and teens. This book is bursting with life and color. Starts with regions of the brain and a discussion of stigma, and then proceeds to demystify everything from fear to addiction. Showing how the brain and body work together, or misfire, or get in loops really helps destigmatize mental illness. Doesn't go as far as schizophrenia, psychosis, oppositional behavior disorder, but does cover the biggies - anxiety and depression. With a lot of talk about stress along the way.
Everyone can learn something from this book, and it's cute to boot!

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Effective overview of the brain and mental health for a young teen audience. I feel like a lot of teens might read this and think it's too young for them, but while the presentation may seem geared toward younger children, the subject matter is definitely more appropriate for the teen set. It possibly spends a little too much time on substance use disorders and suicide, and while it covers depression pretty well, it doesn't delve much into anxiety. I also hoped it would further cover healthy habits, behaviors and coping mechanisms because while it mentions things like this, it doesn't put enough focus on it for it to grab a teen's attention. We can tell our teen all we want about what she should be doing to improve her well-being and mental health but she doesn't really care about what she hears from us. It's those outside influences that I think is where it will start to resonate with her — peers, favored mentors and the entertainment she chooses for herself, including books. Having said that though I really liked the content, so much that I wanted more of it.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freaking awesome! I have to thank my sister for this recommendation! Wish I had this growing up! Glad it’s out there ☺️

[Sammy Kominiarek · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! Can't wait to put this in my office next year 🧠✨ great read for kids and adults

[Brooke Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. The illustrations are fun and allow for difficult conversations to be made easier. I feel like conversations about mental health, addictions, and suicide were done in a comforting and informative way to help make it more geared toward youth. The different parts of the brain having different drawings and having this followed through the book was enjoyable!

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cara Bean has done a truly wonderful job with this fun, accessible ages-12-and-up guide to mental health. It's full of helpful, relatable and charming as all-get-out information, appropriate personal anecdotes and sound advice. Her skillful, entertaining cartooning underlines the fact that the medium of comics is an exceptionally effective way to put across educational materials for younger people (and adults like me!).

[Marissa LaCelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. As a social worker who works in the foster care system, this book has been SO wonderful for not only the kids I work with but also the adults who support them. This book breaks down difficult topics into easy to digest information and adorable illustrations! I can't recommend this book enough for every human being, regardless of if you work with kids, have kids, or are around kids at all. Every person could benefit from reading this book!

[Savanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thoughtful, accessible, comprehensive book about mental health, breaking it down into easy-to-understand pieces in an appropriate way for a teen audience. Even though graphic novels usually aren't my favorite genre, I actually felt that the graphic presentation of content made this more engaging. This would be an excellent book to add to a school's Health or mental health curriculum as well as students (and even adults) struggling with or interested in mental health issues.

[lily ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3.5 stars]

[K R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Designed for a teen audience but perfect for all ages. This book is beautiful, informative and engaging!

[Valerie Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

"having a bad thought doesn't make you a bad person, it just means you're having a thought"

this is a great way to introduce teens to the spectrum of mental health in a way that makes it not scary (it's all scientific!), not isolating (it's something everyone deals with to some degree!), and not boring (there are characters and examples!). I also appreciate how it touched on so many little topics too, I kept thinking "oh well I'm sure it won't address this" and then it did! I wish it focused a bit more on what to do when it's you going through it rather than how to help someone else going through it as well as I feel like all the neuroscience in the beginning might be a bit boring to some, but overall, I can see why this is therapist recommended and now it is (at least 1) librarian recommended too

[Estibaliz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, just because of how immensely useful this little guide about your brain and your emotions, geared towards a teenager audience, can be.

The art can look a bit childish, and it certainly gets old quickly, so you won't be reading this graphic novel because of the visual appeal, but Cara Bean makes a great job in addressing all kind of mental health issues in an open and useful way.

Clearly a non fiction book, so you have to put some effort into it, but I understand why it gets so many raging reviews from mental health professionals.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look at the importance of mental health and steps to help navigate through some of the processes are detailed in this nine chapter, illustrated book. The topics and complex concepts covered are brought home and made accessible through illustrations that go beyond words, making the subject matter understandable.

[Carol Youssif · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I hope the author releases this title in middle grade format for upper elementary school and younger teens.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming, engaging, and comprehensive introduction to mental health for tweens, teens, and even adults.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing graphic novel that would be extremely useful for teens. There is so much about mental health explained that it would be very useful in the classroom setting as well.

However, I am not sure teens would continue to read it for entertainment once they start it. At times the amount of information feels a little overwhelming. It would be great if used over time to touch on each subject but it is not a light read even though it is written with an entertaining twist. This is a great book but it also appeals to a certain niche of people.

[Brit Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

It might sound cliche, but I truly do wish that this book had been around when I was an adolescent. Cara Bean does such a wonderful job presenting this information in a way that is straightforward but also entertaining. Her ability to break down a heavy topic like mental health into an illustrated character’s journey while still presenting information that is readily accessible to any reader of any age is a triumph.
Reflecting on my education as a child and teenager, I can confidently say that I am a visual learner, and it is so important for me to be engaged as I learn. I was very excited to read this book for our assignment, as I had never heard of a mental health graphic novel before – what a brilliant concept! I am not a comic book person per se but have always enjoyed animation as a medium for storytelling, whether in film, tv, or literature. Cara Bean’s cartoon avatar “Bean” takes an illustrated journey through an animated world of mental health concepts, interjected with personal anecdotes that are both relatable and heartfelt. I appreciated the way that she broke down the anatomy of the brain, detailing which parts were responsible for emotions, reactions, etc. Presenting the information in this manner was such a simplified way of understanding the biology behind mental health and how our subconscious and biology play a part in our behavior.
When discussing the topic of fear, Bean portrays these feelings as cartoon monsters, stating “I like imagining monsters in order to understand and process things that are scary to me. What I actually fear varies from day to day and depends on situations in my life, community, and world” Bean uses these monsters to illustrate that fear is not only unavoidable but necessary and by doing this, she has created a malleable coping mechanism for anxieties and stressors in her own life. I can imagine how helpful this must be to a teenager who has a challenging time wrapping their brain around feelings of insecurity, doubt, and anger while being a visual learner; translating these emotions into adaptable art versus overwhelming data and research can give them a sense of power and ownership that they may not otherwise have.
Cara Bean’s care for mental health is evident on every page of this book, through carefully crafted storytelling and artwork. She offers a calming and unpretentious guide for anyone who may just be starting on their own mental health journey or is looking for resources to share with someone in their life. This book is designed for teens, but I think that it can be enjoyed by a person of any age. I genuinely think that this book would be a great asset for any counselor (school or otherwise) and would also be a useful tool for students studying mental health. I know that it is common for many families to have educational literature in their homes for children, such as books on personal health and hygiene, dealing with life milestones, etc., and I think that “Here I Am, I Am Me” deserves its own spot on the shelf. The information within is so useful and can be of help to so many people.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely awesome. A comic all about the brain and all things mental health. I recommend it to absolutely everyone - of any age - but especially those who work with or live with teenagers.

*All* the stars.

[Abigail Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent breakdown of sensitive topics

[LilithHowl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars - Excellent guide to metal health for teens, as well as adults. When you're feeling a lot of feelings sometimes a book FULL of nothing but words seems daunting. This lovely graphic novel presents solid information in a delightful and digestible way. I've recommended it to my therapist. =)

[Readersaurus · Rating 5 out of 5]

An appealing and easy to read book on this important topic. I’m glad we have this one in our library.

[Leah Garis · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Here I Am I Am Me" is an amazing book to read. It has taught me so many ways to help the people in my life. It has amazing illustrations that help the information stick.

[Cassy Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this book existed when I was a pre-teen/teenager. Cara Bean’s little bean character walks you through metaphorical mental health maps to break down very real hugely important often stigmatized topics from how the brain functions to depression, suicide, and therapy. Kicking stigma to the curb, Cara’s caring tone and personal anecdotes makes this so accessible and welcoming (you can tell she’s a fantastic teacher!). Give it to every teen you know (or get it for yourself, then gift it to anyone struggling. I guarantee they will feel less alone after reading it). Every library serving young people should have it on their shelves. What a fantastic example of graphic medicine!

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is basically an illustrated psychology course.

[Victoria Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important information about neurobiology and mental health in comic form - THANK GOD. So many middle readers with reading reluctance or graphic preference will now have access to information that was previously closed to them. That, and it's actually good!

Thank you to Hachette for this advanced reader copy.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book begins with Cara doing an excellent job of creating a safe feeling by inserting herself immediately into the story, she feels like a friend alongside you during the journey. Her "Bean memories" throughout the book to help you establish a connection with her, and she remains strong and reassuring by being vulnerable with you the whole time. Learning this much about the brain is a little intense, but Bean refers back to this brain chapter over and over with catchy doodles and quotes making it easier to comprehend. The exploration of the mind, is done in a nonjudgemental manner that explains destructive thoughts in a straightforward way, which aids identifying those behaviors in yourself and others. By distinguishing fear & anxiety as two totally separate entities, and introducing trauma as fact, Cara assists the reader define and understand their experiences better. The book smoothly transitions into coping mechanisms and skills, guiding readers through managing emotions and responses they may have not previously understood. Addressing the topic of substance abuse and addiction in an entire chapter, the book normalizes discussions around issues previous generations struggled with silently. Bean then courageously delves into depression and even deeper, suicide, discussing suicidal thoughts and preventive measures for oneself and others. Ending with a comforting embrace, the book reminds readers that it’s okay to feel what they feel and seek help when needed, while also encouraging them to support others. Overall, the book is beautifully narrated and illustrated, utilizing color and cartoons, designs and doodles to represent and suggest ideas that result in a personal, unique, and moving addition to any library.

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

My main problem with this book was there were no references/bibliography. There were maybe less than 5 pages that cited some source, but there were no comprehensive bibliography. Yes, there were acknowledgments made to three doctors, but it did not say these doctors were the sources for the information. It sounded like they just reviewed the information.

Also, the supposed therapist friend named Michael was also not listed as far as I can tell in the acknowledgment page even though the section about therapy was covered mostly by him. The therapy section was a bit concerning when it came to the question "Are Conversations in Therapy Kept Private?", because this therapist made it sound like parents/caregivers are not one of the people that need to know (Bean, 2024, p. 257). That's a problem, because this book is for teens who are minors and are under the care of the parents/caregivers. Those people should know way ahead of the therapist's supervisor and the client's regular doctor. It also sounds like wedge is being made between the parents/caregivers and the teens, which is mistake due to the seriousness of some of the topics covered by therapy listed on pages 240-241. The parents/caregivers should know the struggles that their teens are experiencing.

Verdict: While the information sounded accurate, there was no bibliography. I would be curious to know whether the doctors and therapists from the Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up by Abigail Shrier would approve the therapy section and possibly other related sections of the book.

[A_R_Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know an adolescent or a parent of an adolescent (or soon-to-be adolescent), this is a gift that is sure to be appreciated. It's so easy for adults to forget what teen-hood was like. This book can offer information and real vocabulary to successfully have challenging discussions.

As a licensed mental health professional, as well as someone with a degree in visual design, I can say that when I received the book in the mail (I pre-ordered it), I was blown away by the sheer amount of work that went into this. Part of me expected it to be much shorter, though I don't know why.

The work of planning and drawing, but also the work of research into neurobiological underpinnings of mental health is really extraordinary. It's not something you'll get in a single sitting—it's chock full of helpful information, presented in a way that an adolescent can comprehend, and very likely relate to—either due to their own challenges on the cusp of adulthood, or the challenges of their friends. It's a book I think they can comfortably share and talk about, if so inclined. The book can definitely provide the tools for those conversations.


When I was in practice as a therapist with young people, most with dual-diagnoses, I really could have used a book like this for my clients. I'm glad it exists now.

[Neil Brideau · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book!

Here I am, I am Me by Cara Bean is a fun, thoughtful and caring book about mental health. It’s geared toward high schoolers, but as an adult I found it very informative and engaging. The book is respectful to the intelligence of younger readers, never talking down to them, and it encourages them to be open about their feelings, and to seek help when needed.

Cara Bean uses a lot of personal anecdotes that I found particularly impactful, destigmatizing mental health issues, and encouraging readers to seek help, and to be good friends to those who might be dealing with depression, addiction or anxiety.

Cara’s cartooning strongly conveys ideas—including thoughts and feelings that don’t have clear visual representation, and keeps the book easy to read and fun. I thought her representations of fear, stigma, depression, and addiction were particularly striking, and made the book a lot of fun to read!

[Sirah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art teacher Cara Bean guides readers through several topics related to mental health, including (but not limited to) stigma, addition, anatomy, and healing. She breaks down each topic into highly simplified nodules and uses cartoony drawings to help young people get a better understanding of how their brains work and what to do if something isn't quite right.

I think this book is a good idea in theory, and it's pretty appropriate for its target audience. I personally found the explanations much more surface-level than what I was looking for. There's also no story here: it's just one long explanation with metaphors and cartoon examples. I could definitely see this as a good primer for young readers, particularly middle schoolers, and it might be just the thing a kid needs when taking the first steps toward understanding and healing.