Some topics are difficult to talk about, but here are some books that cover those topics that may be tougher to ask for. Library staff are here to help you find the information you need, you can talk to a librarian at your local library, through Ask A Librarian, or even use Personalized Book Picks to find the right book for you.
You are not alone, even if it may feel like you are, these books have stories from those who have faced similar issues.
Need something we don't have? Feel free to request a physical item, or either an ebook or audiobook through our Suggest a Title form. You can also explore the research database, Points of View, for recent online articles on various topics.
Facing a crisis? Youth Resources and Crisis Lifelines available from National alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Tough Topics by Dewey Numbers
| Abusive Relationships: 362.82(92) |
Bullying: 302.343, 305.343, 371.58 |
Hygiene: 613.0423-4 |
Self-Harm: 616.8582 |
| Acne & Skin Care: 616.53, 646.726 |
Counseling: 361.06 |
Incarcerated Family: 632.82 |
Sex: 613.954, 613.96 |
| ADD/ADHD: 618.9285 |
Death & Grief: 155.937 |
Pregnancy: 618.2 |
Sexual Abuse (family): 362.76 |
| Adoption & Foster Care: 362.73 |
Depression: 616.8527 |
PTSD: 616.8521 |
Sexual Assault: 364.1532 |
| Alcohol: 613.81 |
Disability: 305.908, 362.41 |
Puberty/Bodily Changes: 612.661 |
Sexual Assault (date): 362.883 |
| Anger/Aggression: 152.47 |
Disordered Eating: 616.8526 |
Questioning Faith: 234.2 |
Sexual Identity: 306.76 |
| Anxiety: 152.46, 616.8522 |
Divorce: 306.89 |
Racial Profiling: 362.23 |
STDs: 616.951 |
| Autism Spectrum: 616.8588 |
Domestic Violence: 362.8292 |
Relationships & Dating: 306.73 |
Substance Abuse: 362.29 |
| Birth Control: 613.94 |
Gender Identity: 306.768 |
School Shootings: 371.782 |
Suicide: 362.28 |
| Body Image: 616.852 |
Homelessness: 362.5 |
Self-Esteem: 305.235 |
Teen Dating Violence: 158.2, 306.73 |
Every moment after
Author(s):
Description:
After high school graduation, best friends Matt and Cole strive to put behind them the school shooting they survived in first grade and really begin to live. Told in two voices.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA FIC Mol
The racial trauma handbook for teens : CBT skills to heal from the personal & intergenerational trauma of racism
Author(s):
Description:
Racial trauma can reverberate for generations, and lead to anxiety, irritability, anger, rage, depression, low self-esteem, shame, and guilt. Teens are especially vulnerable to racial trauma, as they are still developing a sense of self and identity. This handbook for teens provides readers with evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills to heal the wounds of personal and intergenerational trauma, increase self-awareness, and build confidence.--
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA 305.8 Hil
Hurt help hope : a real conversation about teen grief and life after loss
Author(s):
Moll, Clarissa
Moll, Fiona,
Description:
"HURT HELP HOPE is a sensitive grief guide written for teens by a grieving teen and her mother. Together they offer refreshing support, advice, and understanding for navigating life after loss. After the death of a loved one, anyone can be caught up in a whirlwind of emotions and unanswered questions, but teens have unique challenges. HURT HELP HOPE covers topics including: *The logistics of funerals *How your body copes with grief *How grief can affect your faith in God. The conversational writing style feels like you're talking to wise friends who get what you're going through. Most importantly, the writers infuse encouraging truths about how your hope in Jesus can be a great comfort in the face of death. Featuring Quizzes, Charts, and Real-Life Stories From Grieving Teens."--Back cover.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA 155.937083 Mol
Layers : a memoir
Author(s):
Bagieu, Pénélope
Kane, Montana,
Description:
Pénélope Bagieu never thought she'd publish a graphic memoir. But when she dusted off her old diaries (no, really--this book is based on her actual diaries), she found cringe-worthy, hilarious, and heartbreaking stories begging to be drawn. In Layers, Bagieu reflects on her childhood and teen years with her characteristic wit and unflinching honesty. The result is fifteen short stories about friendship, love, grief, and those awkward first steps toward adulthood.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA B Bag
The glass girl
Author(s):
Description:
Everyone in fifteen-year-old Bella’s life needs something from her. Her mom needs her to help around the house, her dad needs her to not make waves, her ex needs her to not be so much. The only person who never needed anything from her was her grandmother--and now she’s dead. There’s only one thing that dulls the pressure: alcohol. Vodka, beer, peppermint schnapps--alcohol smooths the sharp edges of Bella’s life. And what’s the big deal? Everyone drinks. Besides, Bella can stop whenever she wants. But after she gets blackout drunk at a Thanksgiving party and wakes up in the hospital, it’s time to face reality. And for Bella, reality means rehab.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YALP FIC Gla
After
Author(s):
Efaw, Amy
Soler, Rebecca.
Description:
In complete denial that she is pregnant, straight-A student and star athlete Devon Davenport leaves her baby in the trash to die, and after the baby is discovered, Devon is accused of attempted murder.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA FIC Efa
The teen breakup survival guide : skills to help you deal with intense emotions, cultivate self-love & come back with confidence
Author(s):
Description:
"Breaking up can be a gut-wrenching ordeal. No matter who initiated the split, the sense of loss can feel overwhelming. Whether the breakup was expected or not, you've been on an emotional roller coaster that's probably left you with lots of questions. "Who am I without them? How do I start over? What is wrong with me? Will I ever be happy again?" Rest assured that you're not alone, there's nothing wrong with you, and, most importantly, things will get better."--
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA 306.73 Zie
Your brain needs a hug : life, love, mental health, and sandwiches
Author(s):
Description:
Your Brain Needs a Hug is a judgment-free guide for living well with your mind. Rae Earl offers her personalized advice on the A to Zs of mental health, social media, family and friendship. She offers friendly advice, coping strategies and laugh-out-loud moments to get you through the difficult days. Witty, honest, and enlightening, this is the perfect read for feeling happier and healthier and learning to navigate life without feeling overwhelmed or isolated.-- ǂc From front cover flap.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA 613.0433 Ear
Killing the Wittigo : Indigenous culture-based approaches to waking up, taking action, and doing the work of healing : a book for young adults
Author(s):
Methot, Suzanne, 1968-
Methot, Suzanne,
Description:
A reimagining of Legacy: Trauma, Story, and Indigenous Healing for young adults. Written specifically for young adults, reluctant readers, and literacy learners, this book explains the traumatic effects of colonization on Indigenous people and communities and how trauma alters an individual's brain, body, and behavior. It explores how learned patterns of behavior--the ways people adapt to trauma to survive--are passed down within family systems, thereby affecting the functioning of entire communities. The book foregrounds Indigenous resilience through song lyrics and as-told-to stories by young people who have started their own journeys of decolonization, healing, and change. It also details the transformative work being done in urban and on-reserve communities through community-led projects and Indigenous-run institutions and community agencies. These stories offer concrete examples of the ways in which Indigenous peoples and communities are capable of healing in small and big ways--and they challenge readers to consider what the dominant society must do to create systemic change.--
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA 971.004 Met
It's totally normal! : an LGBTQIA+ guide to puberty, sex, and gender
Author(s):
Mehta, Monica Gupta
Fisher, Fox,
Description:
Mother and teen duo Monica and Asha Mehta work together to answer your most pressing questions. Forget the penis-in-vagina basics--this is a queer friendly guide that'll have you rethinking the very definition of sex. Combining expert advice with the personal experiences of teens all over the world, prepare to plunge into the topics they don't cover in sex ed. Masturbation, pornography, fetishes--if you're not afraid to ask, they're not afraid to answer.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA 306.76 Meh
Pork belly tacos with a side of anxiety : my journey through depression, bulimia, and addiction
Author(s):
Description:
Yvonne Castañeda shares stories of her childhood growing up in Miami as the daughter of humble immigrants from Mexico and Cuba, and how she came to develop an unhealthy relationship with food. Plagued by doubt and low self-esteem, Yvonne begins a vicious cycle of weight gain and loss, and a reliance on dangerous coping mechanisms. Ultimately, sage advice from her dear abuela gives Yvonne to a realization that shifts her perspective of herself and the purpose of her life, providing a foundation for inner peace, and la solución to her past struggles. -- From back cover.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA 616.8526 Cas
Me & Earl & the dying girl
Author(s):
Description:
Seventeen-year-old Greg has managed to become part of every social group at his Pittsburgh high school without having any friends, but his life changes when his mother forces him to befriend Rachel, a girl he once knew in Hebrew school who has leukemia.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA FIC And
Dreamland
Author(s):
Description:
After her older sister runs away, sixteen-year-old Caitlin decides that she needs to make a major change in her own life and begins an abusive relationship with a boy who is mysterious, brilliant, and dangerous.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA FIC Des
The awesome autistic go-to guide : a practical handbook for autistic teens and tweens
Author(s):
Purkis, Yenn, 1974-
Masterman, Tanya,
Description:
This book explores what it feels like to be a young person on the autism spectrum and looks at all the brilliant things people on the autism spectrum can do. Full of insights about being awesome and autistic, this book celebrates the strengths of understanding the world in a different way. It looks at all the reasons being you and thinking differently can be totally awesome. It also has tips for managing tricky situations such as meltdowns, sensory differences and anxiety. It includes activities to help you concentrate on your strengths and work on your challenges. This book helps you develop the confidence to be who you are and help you live life with as little stress and anxiety as possible.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA 616.8588 Pur
Everything beautiful is not ruined
Author(s):
Description:
To prove to her mother, a famous opera singer dealing with depression after losing her singing voice, that she can handle the grueling life of an actress, Ingrid must survive a wilderness camp.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA FIC You
The Hate U Give
Author(s):
Angie Thomas
Bahni Turpin
Description:
After witnessing her friend's death at the hands of a police officer, Starr Carter's life is complicated when the police and a local drug lord try to intimidate her in an effort to learn what happened the night Kahlil died.
Format:
Audiobook
Call Number:
YA FIC Tho
Pieces of a girl
Author(s):
Kuehnert, Stephanie, 1979-
Description:
"Pieces of a Girl is a memoir about abuse and addiction and the power of storytelling and community that helped zine creator and novelist Stephanie Kuehnert survive and thrive. Told in journal entries, original illustrations, and pages torn from her actual diaries and zines, this is the story of Stephanie's life as a struggling outsider who survived substance and relationship abuse to become a strong young woman after years trapped in a cycle that sometimes seemed to have no escape." --
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA 362.29 Kue
Welcome to consent : how to say no, when to say yes, and how to be the boss of your body
Author(s):
Stynes, Yumi, 1975-
Latham, Jenny,
Description:
"Understanding consent is important for people with all kinds of bodies, in all kinds of circumstances--from getting a haircut or letting the doctor check your blood pressure to hugging a friend, picking up a child, or kissing someone. After all, consent isn't always communicated with a clear "Yes, you can!" or "No, you can't!" This guide breaks down myriad situations involving consent and bodily autonomy, including navigating new or changing feelings, recognizing power imbalances, staying safe in online spaces, and keeping relationships mutually comfortable. Through relatable illustrations, clear explanations, and real-life examples, readers will learn how to actively listen and observe, set boundaries, and speak up for themselves and others. Experts Yumi Stynes and Dr. Melissa Kang approach this crucial topic with passion, awareness, and empathy."--
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J 176 Sty
Overcoming suicidal thoughts for teens : CBT activities to reduce pain, increase hope & build meaningful connections
Author(s):
Pettit, Jeremy W.
Hill, Ryan M.,
Description:
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens in the US, and the need for effective prevention has never been greater. This gentle and effective guide will help teens overcome suicidal thoughts by reducing emotional pain, increasing hope, and building meaningful connections. Readers will learn specific skills grounded in evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), including how to establish safety plans, identify and manage intense emotions, limit stress, find purpose, and ultimately take control of their suicidal thoughts to move forward into a more optimistic and hopeful future.--
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA 362.28 Pet
Heroine
Author(s):
Description:
"When a car crash sidelines Mickey just before softball season, she has to find a way to hold on to her spot as the catcher for a team expected to make a historic tournament run. Behind the plate is the only place she's ever felt comfortable, and the painkillers she's been prescribed can help her get there. The pills do more than take away pain; they make her feel good. With a new circle of friends--fellow injured athletes, others with just time to kill--Mickey finds peaceful acceptance, and people with whom words come easily, even if it is just the pills loosening her tongue. But as the pressure to be Mickey Catalan heightens, her need increases, and it becomes less about pain and more about want, something that could send her spiraling out of control."--Amazon.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA FIC McG
We need to talk about divorce : an important book about separation, stepfamilies, and feeling heard
Author(s):
Scharff, Kate
Le Large, Annika,
Description:
"There are no two ways about it--divorces are tough. In this kid-centric guide for the children of parents going through a separation, divorce therapist Kate Scharff tackles all of the important questions and provides essential advice to help kids navigate this painful and confusing time."--Back cover.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J 306.89 Sch
The problem with forever
Author(s):
Description:
Growing up, Mallory "Mouse" Dodge learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. After she escaped her terrifying childhood and spent years being homeschooled by loving adoptive parents, she is starting her senior year at a public high school. The first day, she runs into Rider Stark, the friend and protector from her childhood, and Mallory realizes that their bond never really faded. But as Rider's life spirals out of control, Mallory faces a choice between staying silent and speaking out--for the people she loves, the life she wants and the truths that need to be heard.--
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA FIC Arm
Brave face : a memoir
Author(s):
Description:
At nineteen, Hutchinson was struggling to find the vocabulary to understand and accept who he was and how he fit into a community in which he couldn't see himself. Convinced that he couldn't keep going, that he had no future, Hutchinson followed through on trying to make that a reality -- an attempted suicide. Over time, he came to embrace life, and to find self-acceptance. In his deeply honest memoir, he takes readers through the journey of what brought him to the edge, and what has helped him truly believe that it does get better. -- adapted from jacket
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA 362.28 Hut
You are enough
Author(s):
Description:
This self-help guide for young readers delivers real talk about eating disorders and body image; tools and information for recovery; and suggestions for dealing with the media messages that contribute so much to disordered eating, written in a easy-to-understand, conversational way.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA 616.8526 Pet
Oh Brother: (A Graphic Memoir)
Author(s):
Description:
"An autobiographical story about an Australian girl named Gina who navigates a family move, starting middle school, and going through puberty while simultaneously negotiating the evolving needs of her nonverbal autistic brother, Rob"-- Provided by publisher.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
Split in two : keeping it together when your parents live apart
Author(s):
Description:
Provides advice to children of divorced parents on living in two homes simultaneously, including how to organize during moves, managing different lifestyles, and coping with the emotional stress of separation.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA 306.89 Bus
When we ride : a novel
Author(s):
Description:
"Diego Benevides works hard. His single mother encourages him to stay focused on school, on getting into college, on getting out of their crumbling neighborhood. That's why she gave him her car. Diego's best friend, Lawson, needs a ride--because Lawson is dealing. As long as Diego's not carrying, not selling, it's cool. It's just weed. But when Lawson starts carrying powder and pills and worse, their friendship is tested and their lives are threatened. As the lines between dealer and driver blur, everything Diego has worked for is jeopardized, and he faces a deadly reckoning with the choices he and his best friend have made" 5/5
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA FIC Ogl
Ash's cabin
Author(s):
Description:
"Ash has always felt alone. Adults ignore the climate crisis. Other kids Ash's age are more interested in pop stars and popularity contests than in fighting for change. Even Ash's family seems to be sleepwalking through life. The only person who ever seemed to get Ash was their Grandpa Edwin. Before he died, he used to talk about building a secret cabin, deep in the California wilderness. Did he ever build it? What if it's still there, waiting for him to come back... or for Ash to find it? To Ash, that maybe-mythical cabin is starting to feel like the perfect place for a fresh start and an escape from the miserable feeling of alienation that haunts their daily life. But making the wilds your home isn't easy. And as much as Ash wants to be alone, can they really be happy alone? Can they survive alone?" --
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA FIC Wan
