Books with “Hard” Topics (ie mental health, sexual assault, illness, etc)
I usually never really think about how these topics make other’s feel,
and to some just the thought of them can be triggering, so for all of
you out there, here is the TRIGGER WARNING! If you are sensitive to
these topics, please turn away now. Thank You.
Sexual Assault:
1.) Some Boys by Patty Blount.
2.) What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton.
These books show two different sides of what happens after being raped. In Some Boys, Grace reports her rape, but because her rapist is the towns all american popular boy, no one believes her. She is then branded as the town’s slut. People always what to sit around flapping their gums and wondering why victims don’t come forward, or why they wait so long to do so. Well there’s your answer! Look at how they are treated! Who really wants that!? It makes me sick!
In What Happens Next, Sid doesn’t tell anyone about her rape, and she basically shuts down, and becomes dead inside. In today’s society, girls are treated as if getting raped is their fault, like it was a consequence for something they did wrong. It’s always about what they were wearing, or what they could have done to avoid it, instead of it being about teaching your sons not to rape. I can go on and on about this subject, but I’d rather not…So let’s move on.
Mental Illness:
3.) OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu.
4.) My Heart & Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga.
5.) The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
I feel like a lot of people think that depression is the only mental illness out there, and I think people need to be better educated about it. Some don’t like it, but I like to be able to find fiction books about mental illnesses other than depression. I myself suffer from OCD, and so it was nice to be able to see how it affects others who have it.
I may not have depression, but I think it’s good to read about it. I don’t know…Maybe it can help you see symptoms in people around you, and maybe they can get help before anything dangerous happens.
That’s all for this week’s Top 5 Wednesday.
What are some of your favorite books that deal with “Hard” topics?
Let me know down in the comments!
*Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme created by GingerReadsLainey, and is now hosted by ThoughtsOnTomes. To find out more/Join, check out the Top 5 Wednesday Goodreads group here.
bookcomablog.wordpress.com 
I had complicated feelings about Some Boys. Did you like it? I also want to read What Happens Next. I think books about topics like sexual assault are so important. I can’t read about them all the time, but every so often I like to mix one in.
I read it so long ago. I think back then I gave it 4 stars? I’ll have to check my goodreads!
I agree with you. I enjoy reading books about mental illnesses because it helps you understand them more. Not everyone with OCD, depression, anxiety, etc. act the same or have the same symptoms. I suffer from anxiety and it’s refreshing to see other points of view on the topic.
Thank you for making this top 5. Found some interesting books here. I also suffer from mental ilnesses and I very much enjoy reading about it, to learn more and see what other ways other than mine these ilnesses can manifestate.
Just discovered your blog and followed!
feel free to check mine out 🙂
http://girlheartsbook.blogspot.pt/
Glad I could help! 😀 😀