Wild Things: YA Grown-Up discussion

May 2012: National Mental Health Month- Read a Juv Fic, MG, or YA book that deals with mental health.

I highly recommend Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern. I loved it! It's super-funny, yet touching, and the sequel Have a Nice Day comes out in October. Also, Choker by Elizabeth Woods is an amazing psychological thriller, as is Tighter by Adele Griffin. All three are really quick reads too; under 250 pages.

I just read Lexapros and Cons by Aaron Karo. It comes out 04/10 and is VERY cute. It's about a kid with OCD and I highly recommend it.

I just read Miles from Ordinary which deals with a middle school girl whose mother has a mental illness (seems like schizophrenia)- it is a well done, intense book.

As I work in the mental health field (with adults), this is a topic that's near and dear to my heart. I have a goodreads' shelf labeled Mental Health if anyone needs some ideas.

Also, if you or anyone you know is struggling, get help! There's a lot of options for treatment out there, and the sooner someone seeks help, the better the prognosis.

May - The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison

Lope is severely OCD.

Total points: 12

Completed Tasks: May

Kick by Walter Dean Myers and Ross Workman

Mental illness plays a part in this story, but I can't tell you without giving a bit away.

Points Earned this month: 2
Total Points: 120

I read

Shine

The book deals with depression, PTSD and drug addiction.

Points this month: 2
Totaly Points: 101

@Cathy- LOVE Shine! It is such a wonderful (horrible!) book. And- YAY! 100!

Completed Tasks: May

Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach
This book deals with depression and suicide- not just a football book.

Points Earned this month: 3
Total Points: 121

Here we go...another productive month & finished early enough to do some other reading.

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
This book deals with depression, abuse, & PTSD.
It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
This book deals with depression in a One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest sort of way.

POINTS EARNED THIS MONTH: 3
TOTAL POINTS: 14
(Not super-star status yet.)

Kellee wrote: "@Cathy- LOVE Shine! It is such a wonderful (horrible!) book. And- YAY! 100!"

I agree - I loved it too. I admit the only reason it came on my radar was because of the National Book Award controversy, but I'm glad I read it.

And thanks, finally reached 100! :)

I read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, which is primarily about teenaged cancer patients, but mental health, feelings and wellbeing are very much a part of the story.

Paul wrote: "Here we go...another productive month & finished early enough to do some other reading.

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
This book deals with depression, abuse, & PTSD.
It's Kind of ..."

Totally Super Star Status for joining only 6 months ago!
How was the Ned Vizzini book? And I LOVE Chris Crutcher!!

Kellee, you asked about It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini. After describing the book and some of the details to some close friends who have dealt with depression, they said his description of depression is pretty spot on. He describes the Tentacles that pull him down into depression (the expectations of others, the fears, the relationships around him) and the Anchors that ground him in reality and help him cope with depression (people who are accepting of him, his art). Those who have experienced depression find this description to be very accurate. So for that reason, I appreciated the book.

It also had a One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest feel to it, and since that is one of my favorite books and movies, I was drawn into the book.

One thing I did not like so much was the feeling at the end that a 5-day stint in the hospital psych ward solved all his problems. Depression is often a much longer and more taxing experience than I was led to believe by reading this book.

So, there's my "more than 2 cents" worth. Thanks for asking.

Paul wrote: "Kellee, you asked about It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini. After describing the book and some of the details to some close friends who have dealt with depression, they said his description ..."

Thank you Paul! I saw Ned speak at ALAN and I have been fascinated by it since then.
Though, I agree about depression being solved- it is an ongoing battle.

Completed Tasks: May

Burnout by Adrienne Maria Vrettos

Points Earned this month: 4
Total Points: 122

Interesting book that deals with alcoholism, body image, and bullying.

Identical by Ellen Hopkins. Deals with drug abuse, sex abuse, depression, eating disorders, and a few others that I'm not going to disclose because it'll ruin the surprise!

1 point

Total points: 44

Jennifer W wrote: "Identical by Ellen Hopkins. Deals with drug abuse, sex abuse, depression, eating disorders, and a few others that I'm not going to disclose because it'll ruin the surprise!

1 point

Total points: 44"

Love Hopkins's books.

Me too! I think Identical is my favorite so far. I totally did not see the ending coming.