This post originally ran on B&N Reads. The subjects of combat ethics, PTSD, and sexual identity in the military might seem like exceptionally heavy ones for young adult literature…until you remember that enlistment begins squarely in the age range of YA’s target audience. Regardless, these books will resonate with readers of all ages who’ve been […]
Welcome back to another edition of YAs That Get it Right, in which pros weigh in on YA books they think nailed an aspect of the human experience. Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, I asked some of my favorite authors of mental health YA, as well as (and including) authors who are also […]
Issues of mental health are tricky enough to understand in life; to capture them well in literature can be nearly impossible. It’s far too easy to get caught up in stereotypes, misinformation, and stigmatization. But when a book does get it right, it can be a literal lifesaver. Literature with teen protagonists suffering from mental […]
The subjects of combat ethics, PTSD, and sexual identity in the military might seem like exceptionally heavy ones for young adult literature…until you remember that enlistment begins squarely in the age range of YA’s target audience. Regardless, these books will resonate with readers of all ages who’ve been touched by PTSD, military families/communities, “Don’t Ask, […]
Laurie Halse Anderson is the best-selling author of young adult novels including Speak, Wintergirls, and, most recently, The Impossible Knife of Memory, out this week. Based on Anderson’s own experience as the daughter of a WWII soldier, The Impossible Knife of Memory traces the struggle of an itinerant father-daughter pair whose constant relocations can’t help them […]