As a teen, life can be stressful. Between classes, socializing with friends, and studying for difficult tests, young people need to find a balance to avoid burnout. Some may find journaling or meditation as a solution. However, others seek to find relief in reading books. If you're feeling anxious, tired, or overwhelmed, here are a few page-turning titles to put your mind at ease.
Noah, Sky, Izzy, and Jamie are close-knit friends who have bigger worries than the SATs. In the polarizing graphic novel Hello Sunshine, their close friend Alex has disappeared from their small town. This causes them to go down a paranormal journey of grief, darkness, mental anguish, and discovery.
Coming to terms with who you are is never an easy task. This is the case for Cesar Flores, the well-meaning yet emotionally conflicted protagonist of The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar. He loves his ex-boyfriend Jamal and longs to reconcile with him. Cesar's diagnosis of bipolar disorder hinders this, as does his strong Catholic faith and self-doubt. Can he conquer these obstacles before it's too late?
Hope Jackson is dead. But how did the life of a beautiful young woman end? In the page-turning thriller Through Our Teeth, Hope's best friends Liv, Kizzie, and Sherie seek to bring her emotionally abusive boyfriend, Brendan, to justice. However, their own complicated history with Hope comes to light, putting their friendships to the test.
Kai Lum has dreams of becoming a chef, and nothing will stand in his way. However, a psychotic episode derails these plans. In Walking on Eggshells, Kai struggles to reclaim his life whilst grappling with the side effects of medication, family pressures, and all the while he faces fears and the voices he hears.
When most teens experience an embarrassing moment, they hide. However, Mia's parents decide to move the family onto a sailboat to leave everything behind. Necessary? No. Life-changing? Yes, indeed. The Uncertainty Principle sees Mia struggle with isolation and anxiety before sailing into new territory, thanks to two new friends who provide an outlook on life and love on the sea.
What books put you at ease? Sound off in the comments below.
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