Healing Through Young Adult Books On Overcoming Adversity
I mentioned reading young adult books as part of my healing process from my foot fracture (see Recovering From Being Activated). It was hard for me to sit still and painful for me to move around. The books below kept me engaged for a chunk of my healing.
Almost all of them involved overcoming adversity, which was very helpful for me.
Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs (May 2008) - I love this book. Teen runner who ends up on a greek island with descendants of the gods. I love how she talks about running.
Goddess Boot Camp (Oh. My. Gods. Book 2) by Tera Lynn Childs (Jun 2009) More adventures on the greek island
Goddess in Time (Oh. My. Gods.) by Tera Lynn Childs (Mar 2020) Time travel and visiting Olympus
The Other Merlin (Emry Merlin) by Robyn Schneider (Sep 2021) - Merlin stories! Merlin has twins and the daughter is more powerful
The Future King (Emry Merlin) by Robyn Schneider (Mar 2023) - More adventures with Merlin, Prince Arthur, Lancelot, Guinevere, etc.
The New Camelot (Emry Merlin) by Robyn Schneider (Aug 2024) - Final book in trilogy. Perfect for what I wanted. Left me thinking I should read The Once and Future King (I haven’t yet).
Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef (Apr 2023) - Loved this one! Mythical creatures needing help.
Bird of a Thousand Stories (Once There Was) by Kiyash Monsef (Feb 2025) - The sequel wasn’t as good but still enjoyable.
Royals by Rachel Hawkins (May 2018) - Love these types of stories - teen transported to some type of Royal experience, lots of learning
Stronger Than You Know by Jolene Perry (Sept 2014) - Childhood trauma and panic attacks - doing hard things.
The Brave by James Bird (Jun 2020) - Overcoming anxiety disorder, learning to take responsibility, and a beautiful friend
How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather (Sep 2017) - Recommended in The Brave. Fun story about witch trial descendants, book summary suggests Mean Girls, written by a descendant
Haunting the Deep by Adriana Mather (Dec 2018) - Final book in the series, this time on the Titanic. Not as good as the first but enjoyable.
Tumbling by Caela Carter (Jun 2016) - Loved this - several gymnasts figure out who they are and what they want
Flowers In The Attic: 40th Anniversary Edition (Dollanganger Book 1) by V.C. Andrews (Nov 2019) - reread to think about it’s impact on me
All Fall Down (Embassy Row, Book 1) by Ally Carter (Jan 2015) PTSD and dealing with the realities of embassy life
See How They Run (Embassy Row, Book 2) by Ally Carter (Dec 2015) Teen continues to investigate her mother’s murder
Take the Key and Lock Her Up (Embassy Row, Book 3) by Ally Carter (Dec 2016) Learning the truth and making decisions
Royal Blood by Aimée Carter (Mar 2023) The King’s illegitimate daughter ends up in London with the royals
Royal Scandal (Royal Blood Book 2) by Aimée Carter (Mar 2024) More adventures. Still fun.
I Woke Up Dead at the Mall by Judy Sheehan (Mar 2016) - Amusing story about the afterlife of a teen set in part in the Mall of America
Airhead (The Airhead Trilogy, Book 1) by Meg Cabot (May 2008) - Switched body, learning what life is like as a supermodel
Forgive My Fins (Forgive My Fins, 1) by Tera Lynn Childs (Jun 2010) - Mermaid lives on land part-time and has to make difficult decisions about what she wants. I haven’t finished the second one. I liked the olympus stories better.
Eve of Man (Eve of Man Trilogy) by Giovanna Fletcher and Tom Fletcher (Sep 2020) - First woman born in 50 years lives in a fake world. A little too scary for me. I read most of the second one too.
The Truth About My Success by Dyan Sheldon (Jun 2015) - swapped identities where both young women learned and grew
Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone (Oct 2012) Travel between time and space. Engaging enough.
One by Sarah Crossan (Sep 2015) Conjoined twins deal with life and possible separation
Time Stoppers by Carrie Jones (May 2016) - I found the writing to be too young
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) by Rick Riordan (Jun 2005) - classic, reminded me of reading with my kids
The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2) by Rick Riordan (Apr 2006) - decided to read other things after this
