This week’s topic is in honour of Mental Health Awareness Month. Awareness about mental health is something that is really important to me, and I’ve read many books about mental illness. Here are five that particularly stood out to me. T5W is a group hosted on Goodreads, if you’d like to participate check it out here.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson – Speak explores the protagonist’s life following a traumatic incident. This is such a beautifully written book that really managed to capture the voice, experiences and emotions of the narrator. The depth and symbolism in it is just stunning.

The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer – I found this a really emotional read, and gave it a rare 5 stars, because I found it so impactful.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher – This book has been seen as a little controversial, and the television adaptation especially so, but I thought the book was brilliant. It tells the story of a girl who is trying to understand why she feels the way she does, why life feels so hopeless, and how to come to terms with everything going on in her life and in her head. This book has an important message to tell.

Crank by Ellen Hopkins – This book is written in a novel in verse form, which works really well with the subject matter. Hopkins explores drug addiction incredibly effectively through this style of writing.

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson – Another book by Laurie Halse Anderson makes this list. While I felt Wintergirls didn’t have the same impact as Speak, it is still a very good book. It tells the story of two girls with bulimia and anorexia. As this is something I didn’t know much about before reading the book, it was interesting to see a story told from the perspective of someone with anorexia.