It's My Life . Emotions . Depression . Book List

Great Books About "Depression"

Fiction Books

The Reappearance of Sam Webber
by Jonathon Scott Fuqua
Eleven-year-old Sam is devastated when his father suddenly abandons the family. Things go downhill from there: he's forced to move to a different neighborhood, adjust to a strange school, and deal with living in a small apartment. Sam often feels sick to his stomach and has trouble breathing and, as he retreats into a world of comic books and G.I. Joe figures, sinks into a deep depression. It takes a friendship with the school janitor, Greely, to help him out of his shell and connect with the world again.

No Cafés in Narnia: A Tarragon Island Novel (The Tarragon Island Series)
By Nikki Tate
Thirteen-year-old Heather Blake is having trouble settling into her new life on Tarragon Island, especially since she has to deal with a strange new writer's group. When her grandfather dies and sends her family into an emotional tailspin, two things help Nikki through her troubles: trying to solve the mystery of a stolen Russian stamp collection and, surprisingly, her fellow young writers.

Please Don't Cry, Mom
by Helen Denboer, Janice Galanter Goldstein (Illustrator)
A tween-aged boy tells the story of his mother's battle with depression.

The "Harry Potter" Series
By J.K. Rowling
You're probably very familiar with Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the gang at Hogwarts. But here's an interesting fact: J.K. Rowling has said that the Dementors of Azkaban, who suck all the joy and life out of the prisoners, are based on her experience with chronic depression. Harry, who's strong and positive even when dealing with his parents' deaths and the Dursley's meanness, can really give readers hope in the face of life's challenges.

Non-Fiction Books

Depression: What It Is, How to Beat It (Teen Issues)
by Linda Wasmer Smith
This book explains what causes depression, how to figure out whether someone is depressed, and what treatments and other resources can help. Also included are true stories of teenagers who have been depressed and how they have dealt with the problem.