"Candid and sincere portrayals of mental health issues in young adult literature help to shed light on an issue that is a growing concern for young readers." Mental health is among the top-three national issues concerning Australian youth, according to the Mission Australia 2016 Annual Youth Survey. While the percentage of young people who indicated mental health as a top national concern has doubled in the past six years. Ultimately, the novel is candid and thought-provoking, rather than being didactic or preachy, and acknowledges that the reality of mental health issues is challenging. Candid and sincere portrayals of mental health issues in young adult literature, from the perspective of relatable protagonists, help to shed light on an issue that is a growing concern for young adult readers.

Source: Huffington Post November 25, 2017 19:18 UTC