We’re headed into a week in which our Secondary has special sessions each day focused on emotional, physical, and spiritual health. So I thought it would be a good chance to share some books on anxiety helps or which feature characters dealing with anxiety who get help/learn important lessons that are passed on to readers. Click on the titles to read my full review of each book including any content notes/trigger warnings.
Bedtime Jitters (Beak & Ally, #2) by Norm Feuti
Beak is having trouble sleeping at night because of all the strange noises in the swamp. What sorts of scary monsters are out there in the dark? Meanwhile, Ally won't get any peace until Beak is sure there are no monsters. What can Ally do to help Beak?
This engaging graphic novel adventure with Beak and Ally provides a very real way to help readers address bedtime fears.
Target Readers:
Graphic Novel Fans, Animal Lovers, Humor Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Readers with Bedtime/Dark Fears, Lower Grade Readers
Before She Ignites (Fallen Isles, #1) by Jodi Meadows
Mira Minkoba is the Hopebearer, the living symbol of the Mira treaty for the people of the Fallen Isles. But when Mira uncovers a secret someone obviously doesn't want made public, she finds herself thrown into the Fallen Isles most notorious prison. Through occasional flashbacks and Mira's account of life in prison, readers slowly uncover just what is going on in the Fallen Isles.
This is a tantalizingly spun fantasy/mystery/political thriller set in a Polynesian-inspired world featuring a character who is discovering she is more than just a pretty face. Mira also provides a tactful, respectful, and authentic representation of anxiety issues that result in obsessive habits (she likes counting). Over the course of the series her anxiety is dealt with more and more.
Target Readers:
Fantasy Fans, Prison Break Story Fans, Polynesian-Influenced Setting/Culture Fans, Dragon Fans, Adventure Fans, Political Thriller Fans, Mythological Fiction Fans, Anxiety/OCD Authentic Representation Fans, Young Adult Readers
Bird & Squirrel All Tangled Up (Bird & Squirrel, #5) by James Burks
Squirrel has developed into a bit of an anxious parent. He keeps having nightmares of bad things happening to Birdie that he can't save her from. When Bird convinces Squirrel to take Birdie bigfoot hunting, nothing could possibly go wrong...right?
The development of Squirrel into a worrywart parent feels very natural based on his past character. (If you haven’t read any of the rest of this series, do! They are a lot of fun!) I really like the lessons Squirrel learns in this book. It's a great read for kids (or parents) with mild anxiety.
Target Readers:
Graphic Novel Fans, Humor Fans, Adventure Fans, Readers with Mild Worry Tendencies, Middle Grade Readers
The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling
It's Nora's birthday. Her dad has picked a slot canyon for them repel into and explore. Nora is super excited to be doing something somewhat normal with her father. She and her mom and dad used to go hiking and rock climbing all the time. But ever since the disaster on her last birthday, a disaster that ended her mom's life, they haven't done much and her father has become more and more reclusive. He believes the only safe place is somewhere without any other people. Somewhere like a slot canyon in the middle of the desert. But danger lurks even in the absence of other people, and a flash flood comes and Nora and her dad are separated. The disaster makes all her anxiety and PTSD come to the surface. Can Nora conquer the Beast that stalks her in order to survive and be reunited with her dad?
The intro and concluding chapters of this book are written in normal novel style while all the middle chapters when Nora is on her own are written in free verse poetry. While Nora's situation is dire, she still can see the beauty around her, and it’s an ultimately hopeful book.
Target Readers:
Contemporary Fiction Fans, Novels in Verse Fans, Survival Story Fans, Readers Trying to Understand Anxiety/PTSD, Upper Middle Grade/YA Readers
Even Superheroes Get Scared by Shelly Becker, ill. by Eda Kaban
Can a bunch of superheroes overcome their fears and encourage readers how to be brave even when they feel afraid?
An excellently done rhyming picture book about tackling fears.
Target Readers:
Superhero Story Fans, Humor Fans, Readers with Fears, Picture Book Readers
Flashlight Night: an Adventure in Trusting God by Elisabeth Hasselbeck, ill. by Julia Seal
A boy and a girl talk about how they write their worries on a prayer wall to help turn those things over to God. After a few days Mom takes them back to the wall with a flashlight they turn on prayers that were answered and off over ones that aren't yet answered. The book ends with the kids thanking God for looking out for them.
I like how this gives little worriers an action to help them hand their anxieties over to God in a physical way.
Target Readers:
Contemporary Fiction Fans, Christian Fiction Fans, Little Worriers, Prayer Story Fans, Picture Book Readers
Get out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts by Jennie Allen
The battle for our thoughts is constant and often overwhelming. Inspired by her experience of 18 months of dark, negative, harmful thought patterns, Jennie introduces questions and thoughts to interrupt the negativity and toxicity spirals that worm their way into our minds. By following the steps she outlines (and has worked through herself, and still works through) readers can move their thought patterns from anxious to trusting, from negativity to hopefulness, from anger to peace, from darkness to light, from us-centered to God-centered.
This book is practical, backed up by science (she includes a lot of research about the brain), Biblically based, written from a spirit of humility and ongoing learning, and inspirational.
Target Readers:
Christian Nonfiction Fans, Readers Who Struggle with Anxious/Negative/Toxic Thoughts, Adult Readers (though totally approachable for YA)
Lars the Awkward Yeti, Vol. 1 by Nick Seluk
A collection of comics featuring Lars, a blue yeti and his self-care, social, and mental health challenges.
Lars is a relatable character and puts a comic twist on everyday events and thoughts.
Target Readers:
Comic Fans, Relatable Humor Fans, YA & Adult Readers
Living with Viola by Rosena Fung
Livy's family has just moved to Canada from Hong Kong. She finally finds some friends at school, but this voice in her head, Viola, makes her worried they won't like her if they know the real her. Viola also has lots to say about her artwork, how she is doing as a daughter, her schoolwork, and lots of other things. Is Viola right? Or is there a way to help Livy feel better about herself and her life?
Viola is a personification of Livy's anxiety and panic disorder, something the author/illustrator has experienced herself. Eventually Livy's mother and teachers get her to therapy (and her dad gets on board too), and Livy learns some real helps for how to cope with and decrease her anxiety. The book is ultimately hopeful for those who share Livy's issues, and it will be empathy-building for those who know someone with anxiety or panic disorders.
Target Readers:
Graphic Novel Fans, International Moves Story Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Asian Character Fans, TCK Story Fans, Readers with or Who Know Someone with Anxiety/Panic Issues, Upper Middle Grade /YA Readers
Perfectly Suited: the Armor of God for the Anxious Mind by J.D. Peabody
J.D. Peabody shares new things he learned about the Armor of God when he reached a low point in his mental health and was looking at this passage in Ephesians for not only spiritual battles but also emotional/mental battles.
Peabody doesn’t promise any quick fixes, but shares truths readers can cling to. It’s a fresh look at Ephesians 6 with important reminders whether you suffer from anxiety or not. And one man’s story of how the Armor of God (plus counseling/psychiatric help) was instrumental in getting him to a healthier mental/spiritual place.
Target Readers:
Armor of God Studiers, Christian Nonfiction Fans, Anxious Readers, Adult Readers
The Whatifs by Emily Kilgore, ill. by Zoe Persico
Cora is constantly thinking about What Ifs. As her piano recital draws near and she becomes more stressed, the What Ifs flock to her in droves. Can she get a handle on these critters or will they take her over?
The steps to help combat the anxiety laid out in this story are practical and easy to implement. I can see this even being helpful for teens or adults with mild to serious anxiety.
Target Readers:
Fantasy Fans, Anxious Readers, Picture Book Readers
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