By Terry Funk

CA

Moulton, E. E. (2014). Bibliotherapy for teens: Helpful tips and recommended fiction. Retrieved from: http://www.slj.com/2014/11/teens-ya/bibliotherapy-for-teens-helpful-tips-and-recommended-fiction/#_

Summary: This is a recollection of real life encounters with a reference desk librarian helping teens navigate the shelves for books about topics related to Mental Health. More than informational texts, teens wanted fiction books that give understanding of various conditions, e.g. Anxiety, Asperger’s, etc. She created a display with several realistic teen fiction books, and the next day six of eight books in the display were checked out. The author gives some statistics about teens and Mental Illness and what bibliotherapy promises which is basically insight for a teen with the condition(s), family, peers and others.  

Evaluation: The list of books under 12 specific conditions is very helpful since the term Mental Illness is vast and encompasses many different conditions. Also, labels sometimes carry stigma and authors may avoid them. The librarian contacted authors to verify categories when MARC records were unclear. For more about individual titles, one might want to prepare an annotated bibliography from this list. There are still not enough books for teens about Mental Illness and situations that may affect emotional/mental well-being, such as substance abuse, rape, etc. and finding books on the shelves helps teens realize they are not alone, that others have had similar experiences. The author also points out that while not a substitute for therapy, readers gain insight on problem-solving and coping skills in the lives of characters, and that understanding and knowledge may be transferable to their own lives. There is also a place for comments and discussion.