Fostering Mental Health Literacy through Adolescent Literature

Brooke Eisenbach is a former middle school teacher and current associate professor of middle and secondary education at Lesley University where she teaches courses in young adult literature, as well as middle school and high school methods of instructionJason S. Frydman is a nationally certified school psychologist, registered drama therapist, and assistant professor of psychology at Lesley University. His research focuses on trauma-informed programming in educational settings and school-based creative arts therapies.

• CHAPTER 1Introduction: Preparing to Engage with Mental Health Themes in Adolescent LiteratureJason S. Frydman and Brooke B. EisenbachCHAPTER 2What’s Mined is Ours: Mental Health and American Rurality in Kristin Russell’s A Sky For Us AloneJeff Spanke and Sara TynerCHAPTER 3Literacy and Loss: Examining Loss and Grief through Characterization in The Boy in the Black SuitSherri Harper Woods and Terri BentonCHAPTER 4First Person Perspective: Understanding Adolescent Eating Disorders Through the Text Good EnoughLaura L. Wood, MaryBeth DeGennaro, and Brooke B. EisenbachCHAPTER 5Secrecy, Silence, and Transgenerational Trauma: Conflict and Character Development in I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican DaughterDaniela Bustamante and Katie SciurbaCHAPTER 6Exploring graphic memoir trajectories: Processing the effects of substance use disorder and healing through art in Hey, KiddoGrace Enriquez and Michelle PateCHAPTER 7Teaching When Reason Breaks: Understanding Depression and Interrogating Bias through Character AnalysisElsie Lindy Olan, Kia Jane Richmond, and Mary Mae KellyCHAPTER 8“I’m Not Like That”: Reading Heroine to Engage Students in Conversations and Research About Opioid Use DisorderAmanda Rigell, Arianna Banack, and Allen RigellCHAPTER 9Reading A Hero’s Journey through OCDanielCaitlin Corrieri and Elyanna GenoveseCHAPTER 10Exploring Mental Health Literacy through Book ClubsLesley Roessing and Jessica TraylorABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORSSUBJECT INDEXADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON MENTAL HEALTH

This thoughtful compilation focuses on a critical current topic in secondary education: mental health. As overwhelming numbers of adolescents struggle with mental health challenges, this book addresses how adolescent literature can help generate awareness of, reduce the stigma associated with, and normalize experiences with mental health issues. Aimed at middle- and high-school English language arts (ELA) teachers, this volume provides background information and insight into various mental health needs while maintaining a clear focus on using the suggested books to introduce, teach, and reinforce specific concepts within the ELA curriculum. Highly recommended. Advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals.