Category: Mental Illness fiction

Book review: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Viking, 2009

Wintergirls is a harrowing novel that follows eighteen-year-old Lia Overbrook as she comes to terms with her best friend’s death from anorexia as she struggles with the same disorder. This gripping novel about the eating disorders that make them compete to be the skinniest is a painful, powerful story that is ultimately about recovery.

After the news of her friend’s death, Lia begins to spiral into her eating disorder, doing her best to hide it from her father and stepmother. Throughout this, Lia is haunted by the ghost of Cassie. This book is very intense as it deals with difficult themes to understand and read.

This book was both a harmful and beautiful experience to read. It is definitely triggering, but also offers a sense of grounding in knowing that you’re not the only one out there who has these deathly demons.

It doesn’t embellish upon the thoughts that run through one’s mind, instead reveals the inability to process that the disorder really is as dark and disturbing. Laurie Halse Anderson did a good job capturing the terror and internal battle one has to deal with when faced with a deathly disorder, and I was also engrossed at how it brings the competitiveness of such disorders to light. In addition, the writing and stylistic choices are interesting and add to the theme.

Book review: How to Disappear by Sharon Huss Roat

HarperTeen, 2017

How To Disappear protagonist, Vicky Decker, suffers from “absurd shyness,” “self-consciousness,” and introversion. The fun, rousing read starts with her friend Jenna, who kept her safe from social circumstances, moving away, leaving her utterly friendless and nearly agoraphobic. Vicky employs her savvy with digital media to craft the persona of the confident, socially adventurous person she’d like to be.

This depiction of yoyeuristic isolation of social media is a way to understand more the inner thoughts of people who are suffering from being judged or/and afraid of attention. When I read this book, the familiar feeling is not easy to approach because of the amount of uncomfortableness that the main character went through. Basically she is afraid of calling attention to herself and being laughed at and judged.

I really enjoyed this book because it is very relatable, since everyone has a moment in their life where they just want to disappear and not care about anything else. However, as you keep on reading, you’ll eventually find happiness when she finally feels a bit encouraged and connected with others. The novel had great characters, high drama, suspenseful chapters and its realistic fiction also seemed like a thriller.

Book review: Challenger Deep by Neal Schusterman

Thorndike Press, 2015

In recent years, mental health has become a rising issue in society, especially in youth. This story details mental illness, schizophrenia to be exact, showing real ups and down, not glamorizing it, and giving a real depth to it that is truly sad at times.

The narrative follows fifteen-year-old Caden on his journey to both the lowest point on earth and recovery. As a result of his mental illness, Caden seemingly lives in two separate worlds, one being the real world, and the other on a ship under the direction of a Captain.

This boy is written in a way that can also be understood by a younger audience as a YA novel that could also be read by mature primary aged readers. At the start of the novel, Caden’s parents try to cure his paranoia and anxiety through hobbies. As his schizophrenia worsens, Caden is hospitalized where he meets other teens, who all suffer from a variety of mental illnesses. It’s a potent, realistic, relatable narrative that connects to readers because of the utter honesty of one struggling with mental illness.

I recommend it to increase awareness of schizophrenia and those that struggle with it because it encapsulates the emotions of everyone involved.