National Suicide Prevention Month

In September, mental health advocates raise awareness about preventing suicide, a leading cause of preventable death in the United States. The titles in this collection explore issues related to mental health, wellness, and the support systems that can help stem the tide of this tragic epidemic.

Nora Webster

by Colm Tóibín

Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Grief, Loneliness, Memory, Shame & Pride, Death, Family, Social Class, Politics & Government, Art, Music

Tags Historical Fiction, Irish Literature, Domestic Fiction, Literary Fiction, Depression & Suicide

Written by Colm Tóibín, Nora Webster (2014) is a historical novel that follows the titular character, a young woman who is struggling to raise her four young children, process her grief, and reinvent her life after her husband passes away. In 2015, the novel won the Hawthornden Prize, and it has also received numerous other prestigious award nominations. Throughout his career, Colm Tóibín has alternated between fiction and non-fiction, producing works such as Brooklyn (2009), which... Read Nora Webster Summary

Paul's Case

by Willa Cather

Publication year 1905

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Sexual Identity, Art, Beauty, Social Class

Tags Classic Fiction, American Literature, Depression & Suicide, Finance, Education, Education, LGBTQ+

Willa Cather’s short story “Paul’s Case” was published in 1905 in McClure's Magazine. In its original iteration, the story was titled “Paul’s Case: A Study in Temperament,” but it was later shortened to the current title. The story became a popular one of Cather’s, in part because it was one of the only few that she allowed to be anthologized, but also for the debates over its interpretation. “Paul’s Case” was turned into a TV... Read Paul's Case Summary

Picture Us in the Light

by Kelly Loy Gilbert

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Grief, Guilt, Hope, Self Discovery, Community, Art, Truth & Lies, Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ+, Coming of Age, Arts & Culture, Depression & Suicide, Grief & Death, Mental Illness, Modern Classic Fiction

Picture Us in the Light is a young adult novel written by Kelly Loy Gilbert and published in 2018 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Gilbert is the author of three young adult novels, all of which focus on the young Asian American experience. Picture Us in the Light is written in the first-person perspective of protagonist Danny Cheng, but Gilbert includes flashbacks to China to connect Danny to a past his parents have... Read Picture Us in the Light Summary

Prince of Tides

by Pat Conroy

Publication year 1986

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Fathers, Mothers, Siblings, Mental Health, Masculinity, Childhood & Youth

Tags Romance, Southern Literature, Trauma & Abuse, Depression & Suicide, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature, Classic Fiction

... Read Prince of Tides Summary

Reasons to Stay Alive

by Matt Haig

Publication year 2015

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Mental Health, Disability, Masculinity, Fear, Self Discovery, Death, Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Self-Improvement, Psychology, Health, Depression & Suicide, Inspirational, Mental Illness, Psychology, Biography

... Read Reasons to Stay Alive Summary

Richard Cory

by Edwin Arlington Robinson

Publication year 1897

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Death

Tags Narrative Poem, Depression & Suicide, American Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

“Richard Cory” (1897), arguably Edwin Arlington Robinson’s most famous poem, is about perspective and realizing that everything is not always what it seems. About 10 years before the poem was published in a collection, entitled Children of the Night, the United States had experienced a series of economic depressions. The consequences of these economic downturns appear throughout this poem in Robinson’s notorious cynicism, which creates a bleak tone of irony. This situates the poem comfortably... Read Richard Cory Summary

Sharp Objects

by Gillian Flynn

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Depression & Suicide, Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects tells the story of Camille, a crime reporter living in Chicago. After a little girl goes missing in Camille’s hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri, Camille’s boss talks her into going home to report on the disappearance. Although she is reluctant to revisit her hometown, a place she hasn’t seen in over ten years, she is eager to please her boss and gives in to his pleas. Most the novel takes place... Read Sharp Objects Summary

Sheep In Fog

by Sylvia Plath

Publication year 1963

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Fear, Conflict, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Appearance & Reality, Animals

Tags Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Free Verse, Confessional, Depression & Suicide

... Read Sheep In Fog Summary

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie

by David Lubar

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Friendship, Self Discovery, Appearance & Reality

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Coming of Age, Bullying, Depression & Suicide, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance

David Lubar’s young adult novel Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie (2005) was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults in 2006 and a BCCB Blue Ribbon Book. Lubar, a computer programmer-turned-author, has published many books for young readers, including Hidden Talents (1999) and the Weenies series.The story follows 14-year-old Scott Hudson as he navigates his first year of high school with both hilarious and tragic results. Lubar’s novel humorously addresses coming-of-age issues such as changing relationships... Read Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie Summary

Spare

by Prince Harry

Publication year 2023

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Family, Perseverance, Conflict, Grief, Hope, Loneliness, Love, Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery, Social Class, Colonialism, Politics & Government, Truth & Lies, Trust & Doubt, Loyalty & Betrayal, Justice, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger

Tags European History, Politics & Government, British Literature, Animals, Grief & Death, Depression & Suicide, Social Class, Relationships, Journalism, Bullying, World History, Biography

... Read Spare Summary

Stupid Fast

by Geoff Herbach

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Mental Health, Family, Self Discovery, Friendship, Mothers

Tags Humor, Coming of Age, Sports, Realistic Fiction, Depression & Suicide, Mental Illness, Trauma & Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction

Fifteen-year-old Felton Reinstein hits puberty and transforms from a nerd to an athlete but struggles to cope with his mom’s growing mental health struggles in Geoff Herbach’s young adult novel, Stupid Fast (2011). Bullied and teased most of his young life, Felton has anxiety caused by his dad’s death by suicide. Now, he grows huge and fast, joins the football team, and gains new jock friends and a smart, talented girlfriend named Aleah. Outwardly things... Read Stupid Fast Summary

Sweetness

by Toni Morrison

Publication year 2015

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Mothers

Tags Race & Racism, Depression & Suicide, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Dramatic Literature

... Read Sweetness Summary

Symptoms of Being Human

by Jeff Garvin

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Safety & Danger

Tags Realistic Fiction, Bullying, LGBTQ+, Depression & Suicide, Relationships, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness

Published in 2016, the young adult novel Symptoms of Being Human by musician and author Jeff Garvin focuses on the coming of age of gender-fluid teenager Riley. In addition to other awards, the book was a Lambda Literary Award Finalist, was included on the 2017 Rainbow Book List, and was named the Nutmeg Book Award Winner.Note: Out of respect for the main character’s gender fluidity, Riley Cavanaugh is referred to with the singular pronouns they/them/theirs.Plot... Read Symptoms of Being Human Summary

Tears of a Tiger

by Sharon M. Draper

Publication year 1994

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt

Tags Realistic Fiction, African American Literature, Grief & Death, Depression & Suicide, Relationships, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

Written in 1994 by Sharon M. Draper, Tears of a Tiger incorporates various modes of writing, including personal essays, newspaper articles (formal writing), journal entries, and conversations to convey the story of a teenage boy’s descent into grief, guilt, and suicidal ideation following a car crash in which he, as the driver, causes the death of a good friend. The novel explores the importance of mental health in high school students, the effects of drunk... Read Tears of a Tiger Summary