DEPRESSION BOOK LIST

If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 800-273-TALK (8255) or through chat available 24/7.

Family Game Night and Other Catastrophes
Mary E. Lambert
TPL Book, WorldCat

Annabelle doesn’t want anyone near her home because her family lives under piles of her mom’s many “collections”. The only place in the house that is clean is her room. Soon, she becomes obsessed over what comes in and out of her room, and because of her mom’s hoarding, she’s finding it more and more difficult to even be home. Annabelle feels the need to get away but also feels bad about leaving her sister behind. 

Fox Magic
Beverley Brenna
TPL Book, WorldCat

Trigger Warnings: Bullying, Suicide

Chance Devlin made a deal with her two best friends-they were all going to end their lives together. But, Chance didn’t go through with it and now she is here alone, left to find a way to go on. With the help of her parents, teacher, and a curious red fox, Chance begins the hard work of surviving tragedy.

Friends for Life
Andrew Norriss
TPL Book, Hoopla, WorldCat

Trigger Warnings: Depression, Suicide

Jessica and Francis have an unusual start to their friendship. Jessica is surprised Francis could actually see her, and Francis is surprised to learn that Jessica is a ghost (sort of). As their friendship grows and begins to include others, this secret group begins to wonder why they are all connected.

If This Were a Story
Beth Turley
TPL Book, WorldCat

Ten-year-old Hannah Gellar is remarkable. She is the best speller in fifth grade, she is a remarkable listener, and she tries to find magic in the most ordinary of things. When she begins to get bullied at the beginning of the school year her sad thoughts begin to swallow her up. Will she be able to solve the mystery of who is writing the notes before the sadness takes over?

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
Stacy McAnulty
TPL Book, WorldCat

Tigger Warnings: Bullying, Death

Twelve-year-old Lucy loves math. After she was struck by lightning, she developed “acquired savant syndrome.” Now, she sees numbers as colors and constantly calculates everything around her. She has been homeschooled by her grandmother since the accident, but Nana wants Lucy to experience public school before she jumps headfirst into college. So, Lucy begins middle school and learns to handle the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder that has her counting and calculating, even when she wants desperately to develop normal friendships.

Owl’s Oustanding Donuts
Rabin Yardi
TPL Book, Hoopla, WorldCat

Tigger Warning: Death

When Mattie’s mother died in a car accident she went to live with her aunt in Big Sur. Things begin to settle down for her, but Mattie is still very nervous about riding in cars, being near highways, and of course having to ride the school bus in just a couple weeks.

One night an owl flies into her life and points out mysterious polluters across the highway. When the actions of these litter bugs begin to threaten her aunt’s donut shop will she be able to overcome her fear of cars to help save the day?

Sara and the Search for Normal
Wesley King
TPL Book, WorldCat

Trigger Warnings: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child Abuse 

Follow Sara and her search for normal as she experiences daily mental health challenges on top of maintaining a new friendship. Sara and Erin meet in group therapy, and while Sara is hesitant at first, the two quickly become best friends. Sara find herself in a dilemma when she discovers that Erin has a family secret. Not a good secret. Should Sara attempt to intervene in order to help Erin or will this draw them apart?   

The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse
Brian Farrey
TPL Book, Hoopla, WorldCat

Tigger Warning: Death

Princess Jeniah lives in the beautiful and peaceful Monarchy, and at the age of twelve she will soon be queen. Of all the rules she has followed over the years the most important has been this: “If any monarch enters Dreadwillow Carse, then the Monarchy will fall.” The Carse, a forlorn and gloomy place in the center of the center of the Monarchy is an area that all the citizens avoid. All but Aon. To Aon, the Carse is the one place where she can truly be herself, where she can feel her sadness, and she doesn’t have to pretend to be happy.

When a chance meeting brings the two girls together, the fates and their futures will forever be entwined with the Carse and it is up to them to survive it and save the Monarchy.

Some Kind of Happiness
Claire Legrand
TPL Book, WorldCat

Tigger Warning: Alcoholism, Death

Finley has a secret. She has blue days. Not just your regular old sad days, or where you aren’t feeling particularly cheerful. These are dark days. Stay under your covers and don’t come out days. But she can’t tell anyone, not even her mom and dad. Instead she escapes into the Everwood, and magical forest that she writes about filled with fantastic creatures, adventure, and danger. She fills notebook after notebook full of stories about this wonderful place. 

 Now she is being carted off to her grandparents (whom she’s never met)  for the summer while her parents spend some time “figuring things out.” And it is here that she discovers the real life Everwood full of its own secrets, adventure and danger. Will the Everwood be able to help Finely find her way out of her blue days?