Children’s Books Whose Characters Have a Mental Illness

If you’re facing mental health illness in your family or you know someone who is, help your children understand by reading children’s picture and chapter books whose characters who have depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia, and other mental illnesses.

Depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder are just some of the mental health conditions (illnesses) that face our children and loved ones. Reading books, bibliotherapy, can build both understanding and empathy for yourself and others.

And yes, I probably hate the word mental health illness just as much as you do. I’ve dealt with depression and anxiety myself since my kids were born. Not to mention, my daughter has several diagnoses. Needless to say, I’d rather say condition than illness. But, illness is still the most commonly used term presently so that’s why I’m using it here.

Wishing you love, lots of hugs, and hope!

Depression in Children’s Books

Virginia Wolf by Kyo Maclear
DEPRESSION
picture book
Narrated by Virginia’s sister, we see Virginia’s depression in the metaphor of a wolf with hope and recovery starting with her painting. Ultimately, I like the metaphor and think it’s relatable for kids.

Blueloon by Julia Cook
DEPRESSION / BIPOLAR
picture book
This balloon has depression and sometimes mania and describes what it feels like to experience both.

The Princess and the Fog by Lloyd Jones
DEPRESSION
picture book
Once upon a time, there lived a princess. When a fog descends on her, she feels different than she used to — she feels sad and doesn’t want to do what she used to do or see her friends. Honestly, this is true for me — depression does feel like a fog.

The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm by LeVar Burton
SAD FEELINGS
picture book
This book shows how Rhino swallows his feelings instead of feeling them or talking about them and as a result feels very sad. His friends help him learn to feel his feelings and see the happy in the world again. While not specifically about mental illness, it could be used to relate to the sadness of depression.

When Monkey Lost His Smile by Stephanie Margolese
SAD FEELINGS
picture book
Monkey is so sad that his special tree is gone which makes his smile go away, too. With help from friends and family, Monkey discovers how he can feel better again. Again, this book is more about feeling sad but could be used to address some kinds of depression.

The Color Thief: a Family’s Story of Depression
DEPRESSION
picture book
A son describes what happens when his dad suffers from depression.

Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand
DEPRESSION
chapter book, ages 8 – 12
This is an amazing, beautiful chapter book about facing your feelings, even big, huge depression sadness. It’s also a story that mixes the allegory of an imaginary kingdom named Everwood, a place Finley has written about forever but now finds in the back of her grandparent’s house, with the hope and healing that only pretend play can offer children. This is also a mystery story — what happened to make Finley’s father leave and never return? and why does Finley’s grandma hate the neighbors so much? Some Kind of Happiness is multi-layered, thought-provoking, and exquisite that addresses the big topics of divorce, secrets, and depression.

All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker, illustrations by Kelly Murphy
DEPRESSION
chapter book, ages 8 – 12
Art and color are fundamental to this story about a young artist named Olympia, daughter of two artists. After her dad mysteriously disappears and her mom’s depression confines her to bed, Olympia bravely tries to hide her home situation from adults while investigating her father’s location. Fortunately, her friends love Olympia so much that they are willing to make her mad and tell adults so that Olympia’s mom can get help. It’s a portrait of friends who are family and the different growing up challenges that come when you have a parent who is depressed.

Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart
BIPOLAR
chapter book, ages 8 – 12
This is a story that is packed with issues about growing up differently. Dunkin has bipolar disorder and feels better when he’s off his meds which leads to a spiral into mania. His sort-of friend, Lily, is born with boy parts but feels like a girl and while her mother and sister have accepted her as Lily, her dad still calls her Tim and wants him to be a boy. This is their story as these two individuals struggle to find themselves amidst big challenges, including one with a mental illness.

Friends for Life by Andrew Norriss
DEPRESSION / SUICIDE
chapter book, ages 10+
Jessica is a ghost who only Francis can see until two other outcast kids can see Jessica. The four friends spend happy times together until they decide to figure out how Jessica died. When they discover it was a suicide, the friends each reveal their own struggles with suicidal thoughts. The conclusion is very heart-warming with the message that we often all feel alone but we really aren’t if so many others feel the same way, too.

Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller
DEPRESSION
chapter book, ages 8 – 12
Whoa. This children’s middle-grade book touched my heart so deeply. Natalie wants to figure out how to help her mother, who we gather is depressed (in her bed all day long, no longer working, clues like that, …). As Natalie prepares for an egg drop contest with two other kids, she looks at her mother’s situation with the same scientific process zeal. Her ultimate plan is to win the contest then use the money to whisk her mother away on a special trip to see the amazing Cobalt Blue Orchids. Throughout the story, we see her friendships develop as well as her understanding of life as not an exact science. It’s a well-done, compassionate look at depression.

Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern
DEPRESSION
chapter book, ages 13+
Anna’s living in a mental hospital after her parents have her committed. There she meets and makes friends before eventually getting better.

Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford
DEPRESSION
chapter book, ages 13+
Jeff’s in a psychiatric ward after a suicide attempt and is in big time denial — about his suicide and his sexuality.

Saving Francesca by Marlina Marchetta
DEPRESSION
chapter book, ages 13+
Francesca’s mom is suffering from acute depression and Francesca feels lost without her mom especially as she struggles with a new school, friendship challenges, and facing her big feelings.

Anxiety in Children’s Books

There are not a lot of really good children’s books that talk about anxiety — the diagnosed, severe mental health kind of anxiety. However, there are books about worries so that’s a decent place to start I suppose. Below you’ll find picture books and middle-grade books that talk about worries but it’s not really until middle grade and young adult that books more accurately deal with debilitating anxiety and OCD.

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
WORRY
picture book
Wemberly worries about many things, especially starting school. While this only touches on anxiety, it’s a reassuring story that sometimes things we worry about turn out just fine.

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst, illustrated by Geoff Stevenson
SEPARATION WORRIES
picture book
The Invisible String is a string that extends from your heart to the heart of people who love you so we are never alone. This children’s book is meant to be a warm hug for young kids who are worried about being away from parents or caregivers.

Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look
FEAR / ANXIETY
chapter book, ages 7 – 10
Second-grader, Alvin Ho, is afraid of everything, especially school. At school he’s quiet but at home, he’s Firecracker Man, superhero. A decent read about dealing with fears.

Guts by Raina Telgemeier
ANXIETY

School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari
FEARS
chapter book, ages 8 – 12
I debated including this because it’s pretty unrealistic and minimizes the seriousness of kids who do have debilitating fears. But, it’s a silly, entertaining read not meant to be taken too seriously. I’ll give you the gist and you can decide for yourself…Madeleine, Theo, Lulu, and Garrison all have phobias which they’ll face at this bizarre school. They might even learn to overcome their fears if the director has her way.

Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff
ANXIETY & DEPRESSION
chapter book, ages 13+
Annie is worried about everything and gives up some of her activities just to be sure things will be okay. With help from friends, Annie finds her way out of anxiety and sadness.

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) in Children’s Books

OCDaniel by Wesley King
OCD
chapter book, ages 8 – 12
13-year old Daniel is dealing with growing up, OCD, and a possible murder mystery in this new coming-of-age adventure.

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
OCD
chapter book, ages 8 – 12
Wow, do I love this book! The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl is a thoughtful coming-of-age story about a girl genius with OCD whose grandma wants her to go to public middle school to make one friend, read one non-math book, and join one school activity. Surprisingly, Lucy does find friends and more than that, too. I love this well-written, heart-warming story!

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
OCD
chapter book, ages 13+
Absolutely the best book I’ve ever read to understand what it’s like to live with OCD! It feels real because the author, John Green, deals with OCD in his own life. Not only is Aza dealing with the challenges of her brain’s loud and intrusive thoughts but she also is a teenager who is just figuring out her life while following her best friend on a missing person’s investigation.

Kissing Doorknobs by Terry Spencer Hesser
OCD
chapter book, ages 13+
Tara is so worried about everything that her fears turn into obsessive rituals — counting cracks on the sidewalk, prayer, touching doorknobs, and more. She doesn’t want to keep doing her rituals but can’t stop. 

OCD, the Dude, and Me by Lauren Roedy Vaughn
OCD
chapter book, ages 13+
Danielle’s forced into a social-skills class at her alternative high school after her sometimes inappropriate writing for English class alarms her teachers.

PTSD in Children’s Books

Awareness of PTSD is growing. These children’s chapter books give us some idea of what it might be like for children of adults suffering from PTSD.

Eleven and Holding by Mary Penney
PTSD
chapter book, ages 8 – 12
This coming-of-age journey has 11-year old Macy longing for her father who is reportedly on a secret project for the government. She’s determined to find him and get him to return home. During this time, she and her best friend, Twee help an older woman who has a missing dog. As both plotlines progress, we learn the truth about the dog and her dad who has PTSD and a drinking problem. This is a sad but powerful story about grief, grace, and life.

Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya
PTSD

Each Tiny Spark is one of the best books about learning differences that I’ve ever read that also tackles PTSD and prejudice in a beautiful, important story. Emilia is a Cuban-America girl whose ADHD makes focusing on school and school work a challenge. Her mom helps her stay on top of her assignments but her mom leaves for a work trip, leaving Emilia on her own. During this time, the community proposes to redraw the school district’s boundary lines, exposing prejudice and ongoing injustice. Emilia initially doesn’t want to see her friend Clarissa’s racism but her best friend Gus helps her see the truth about what’s going on. She becomes a passionate activist against injustice. Meanwhile, Emilia’s father’s return from the Marine’s is different than before; he’s quiet and distant this time. When he invites Emilia to work on a vintage car, teaching Emilia to weld, it helps rebuild their relationship, too.

The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson 
PTSD
chapter book, ages 13+
Hayley’s dad was a truck driver but now that they’ve settled in one place, his PTSD nightmares and drinking are getting worse. She’s worried and doesn’t know what to do. I found this to be a well-written glimpse into the unpredictability of PTSD.

Stay Where You Are and Then Leave by John Boyne
PTSD
chapter book, ages 13+
This is a historical fiction book about a boy who discovers his soldier father is in the hospital for shell shock. And decides to “rescue” him.

Mental Illness in Children’s Books: Schizophrenia

Where the Watermelons Grow by Cindy Baldwin
SCHIZOPHRENIA
chapter book, ages 9 – 12

12-year-old Della’s mom is getting sick again– acting like she used to before she went into the mental hospital. Her dad is stressed about their farm, and Della wants to fix everything. She believes that maybe the local honey which is reported to have healing powers will cure her mom of everything. Eventually, she comes to a painful acceptance of her mom and her mom’s disease of schizophrenia.

Fig by Sarah Elizabeth Schantz
SCHIZOPHRENIA / OCD
chapter book, ages 13+
Her mother has schizophrenia and Fig has her own issues with anxiety and OCD that makes it hard for to tell what’s real and what’s not. But Fig is sure that she can save her mother. If she just does the right things . . .

I Will Save You by Matt de la Pena
SCHIZOPHRENIA
chapter book, ages 13+
Kidd, a runaway, lives on the beach with other teens including a pretty girl named Olivia. Life isn’t great but it’s going okay until former BFF Devon shows up and threatens both Olivia and Kidd.

Calvin by Martine Leavitt
SCHIZOPHRENIA
chapter book, ages 13+
Calvin’s a teenager with schizophrenia –including the delusion of an out-of-control Hobbes (from the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes). Now Calvin is positive that if he can just get cartoon creator to draw one last comic strip, he will be cured of his mental illness.

Challenger Deep by Neil Schusterman
SCHIZOPHRENIA
chapter book, ages 13+
Bizarre. I got about a third of the way through and wanted to abandon this book. . . until I reread the blurb that it was a journey of schizoaffective disorder. That explained why none of it made much sense! It’s a very sad glimpse into the mind of what Shusterman’s own son experienced.

Made You Up by Francesca Zappia
SCHIZOPHRENIA
chapter book, ages 13+
Alex has schizophrenia and is used to not knowing what’s real and what’s a delusion but she’s determined to stay sane enough to get into college. Then she sees Miles at her school and remembers him from a delusion she had 10 years before.

Other Mental Illness in Children’s Books Including Hoarding

Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
MENTAL ILLNESS (not specified)
chapter book, ages 8 – 12
Jack’s mom isn’t like other moms — she sometimes is wild and energetic and sometimes she forgets him. Like when she leaves him at Acadia National Park. He starts walking to Boston with hopes that he can figure things out on his own before social services do. This powerful chapter book shows Jack’s resilience and love for his mother, no matter what.

The Battle of Junk Mountain by Lauren Abbey Greenberg
HOARDING
chapter book, ages 8 – 12

The summer is different than Shayne expected. Her BFF is acting weird. Her grandma, Bea, is supposed to be cleaning out her junk piles but she refuses to part with anything. And there’s an unusual, visiting neighbor kid who always wears a Civil War uniform that Shayne’s spending time with. The author does a respectful job of addressing the mental illness of hoarding as well as the challenges of growing up. Enjoyable and enlightening.

The First Time She Drowned by Kelly Kletter
MENTAL ILLNESS / TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS
chapter book, ages 13+
Now that she’s 18, Cassie can leave the mental health institution where she’s been for over 2 years. She starts college but just as she’s beginning a new, healthy life, her toxic mother starts destroying her mental health again.

Mosquitoland by David Arnold
MENTAL ILLNESS
chapter book, ages 13+
I couldn’t put this chapter book down — it’s got everything: a great plot, excellent writing, and memorable characters. Of course, we aren’t sure our narrator, Mim, is reliable. We’re with her on a journey to help her mom who has been out of touch and has a disease. During her trip, we learn she’s supposed to be taking pills for psychosis and start to wonder what’s real and what’s not. Then we start to suspect that her mom might not have a physical disease . . . It’s a skillfully done young adult book that explores the disorientation when you have a mental illness.

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