Books That Feature Characters Living with Mental Illness

Last updated: June 1, 2026

Not the taboo subject it once was, mental illness offers rich territory to explore in books for kids and teens. Stories chronicling the struggles of young people and their friends, siblings, or parents who suffer from anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), agoraphobia, an eating disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, hypochondria, and other illnesses make for engrossing, insightful reading and help build understanding and empathy. Check out these multilayered novels and memoirs that explore this complex psychological terrain. And you might also want to take a look at our list of Books with Characters Who Have Physical Disabilities.