Tag Archives: Health and Wellness

YA – Getting Help: Coping with and Overcoming Mental Illness

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Mooney, Carla. Getting Help: Coping with and Overcoming Mental Illness. Reference Point Press, 2023. 978-1-6782-0338-2 $35.95 64 p. Grades 7-12.

This book serves as a supportive explanation of mental illness and possible treatments. The first chapter gives a description of the struggles faced by an estimated 44 million Americans each year.  It gives some details about mental illness dovetailing with career instability, drug and alcohol use, relationship strain, school performance decline, and increase in risky behaviors. The second chapter focuses on the stigma associated with mental illness and how that keeps people from both identifying issues and seeking treatment for themselves or loved ones. Young people often turn to online resources for insight, and celebrities’ openness about their own mental health struggles can improve attitudes toward problems. Treatment options are presented in chapter three and include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), and various medications. Two dozen personal experiences are shared, with positive messages such as “the biggest lesson I have learned is to seek out help early” (43) encouraging readers to ask for and seek help.  Lastly, lifelong strategies are given; these include music, art, and animal therapy, support groups, exercise, balanced diet, yoga, and meditation.  Includes source notes, index, further research, and online sources of help and information.

THOUGHTS: This book is a positive, reasonable overview for those seeking to understand or find help for mental illness.

616 Mental Health

MG/YA – Pandemic Aftereffects: The Surge in Teen Eating Disorders

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Sharp, Katie. Pandemic Aftereffects: The Surge in Teen Eating Disorders. ReferencePoint Press, 2023. 64 p. $33.05. Grades 6-12.
Teenagers have a lot to say about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives. In Pandemic Aftereffects: The Surge in Teen Eating Disorders, an introduction and four short chapters provide researchers and readers with a wealth of information about the rise in teen eating disorders as a result of the pandemic. In the introduction four teens  – two with preexisting eating disorders and two who develop eating disorders during the pandemic – are briefly profiled. Four chapters follow, covering What are eating disorders, Why the pandemic triggered eating disorders, getting treatment, and coping with an eating disorder during a pandemic. The chapter on what are eating disorders provides general information as well as sections on anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder. Each disorder includes specific anecdotal situations to help readers better understand from the point of view of someone who has experienced it. This chapter also includes a section on Black people and eating disorders, other underdiagnosed groups, how eating disorders affect the body, an explanation of how complex disordered eating is, and a section on risk factors. The chapter on getting treatment provides hope for those who may be personally impacted by disordered eating or those who are trying to help a friend or loved one. Color photos and text boxes enhance the heavy information presented throughout the book. This title concludes with additional source notes, organizations and websites, for further research, and an index.
THOUGHTS: ReferencePoint Press’s single titles series will enhance secondary library collections looking to update their current issues collections for student research. Depending on student research needs, this title is appropriate for middle and high school collections.
616.85 Eating Disorders

YA – Strong  Healthy Girls (Series NF)

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Strong  Healthy Girls. ABDO Publishing, 2021. $25.95 ea. $312.00 set of 12. 112 p. Grades 8-12.

Emily, Lauren. Dealing with Drama. 978-1-532-19215-9.
Johnson, Anne E. Being a Leader. 978-1-532-19213-5.
Myers, Carrie. Coping with Stress and Pressure. 978-1-532-19214-2.
Allen, Rebecca J. Earning an Income. 978-1-532-19216-6.
Morrow, Kate. Finding your Identity. 978-1-532-19217-3.
Rowell, Rebecxa. Handling Family Challenges.   978-1-532-19218-0.
Huddleston, Emma. Healthy Friendships. 978-1-532-19219-7.
Burling, Alexis. Healthy Romantic Relationships. 978-1-532-19220-3.
Huddleston, Emma. Nutrition and Exercise. 978-1-532-19221-0.
Berg, Shannon. Surviving and Thriving at school.  978-1-532-19222-7 .
Ford, Jeanne Marie. Understanding Reproductive Health. 978-1-532-19223-4.
Huddleston, Emma. Using Social Media Responsibly. 978-1-532-19224-1.

The Strong Healthy Girls reference set focuses on positivity and wellness for a YA audience. Written in a conversational style, this set presents issues girls may find themselves facing during their teen years. Dealing with Drama focuses on navigating difficult relationships with peers and family. Realistic scenarios involving bullying, teasing, and other personal conflicts are described, and readers are presented with questions to consider about these difficult situations. Then an expert weighs in with effective strategies for handling these problems. Includes a glossary, a list of additional resources, and an index.

THOUGHTS: A solid resource for self help and mental health for young adults.

300s/600s          Nancy Summers, Abington SD

Elem./MG – Fred & Marjorie: A Doctor, a Dog, and the Discovery of Insulin

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Kerbel, Deborah. Fred & Marjorie: A Doctor, a Dog, and the Discovery of Insulin. OwlKids Books, 2021.  56 p. 978-1-771-47411-5. $18.95 Grades 3-6.

Fred & Marjorie follows the story of Frederick Banting and his partner Charles Best who conducted research towards finding a cure for childhood diabetes. The doctors decide to use street dogs to test their theories on, and this graphic novel shows the successes and the failures of their scientific journey. The illustrations are well done and add to the story as the reader goes through. There is also an extensive authors note at the end of the book, along with a list of sources the author used for the graphic novel. This book brings up the issues surrounding the use of animals for scientific research, and after the author’s note there is a section that discusses animal testing in more detail. This book is a great introduction to a topic that many readers might not be aware of and gives just enough information to make the reader want to learn more.

THOUGHTS: Overall, this would make a great addition to any other nonfiction graphic novels you have in your collection.

Graphic Novel          Mary Hyson, Lehigh Valley Regional Charter School

Elem. – Outside, Inside

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Pham, LeUyen. Outside, Inside. Roaring Books Press, 2021. 978-1-250-79835-0. 48 p. $18.99. Grades Pre-K-2. 

Capturing community, perseverance, and hope, Outside, Inside by Caldecott Honor winner LeUyen Pham is a moving testimony that depicts the global Covid-19 pandemic. With encouraging words, poetic language, and gorgeous illustrations, this picture book will help young children make sense of the virus that altered their daily lives. The story begins on an unremarkable day just before the season changes. All races and ethnicities are bustling around outside when suddenly everything changes, and everyone goes inside. The outside is quieter, different, even wilder, and the inside holds laughter, tears, and growth. While the world changed outside, the people on the inside become resilient and hopeful. As the story moves forward, the author does not shy away from heartbreaking loss or skip over the unexpected good. Instead, she gently explains that we moved from the outside to the inside to protect the ones we love. Pham never downplays the seriousness of the pandemic and illustrates vivid scenes that represent upended routines, hospital stays, job loss, and even death. Yet, she also lovingly depicts loved ones on the outside protecting those that are inside. Finally, the picture book ends with a season change as hope and love blooms in the air.

THOUGHTS: Outside, Inside’s dedication is to all essential workers, first responders, and communities across the globe. It is true that author LeUyen Pham masterfully captures how all of us felt on the outside and inside as we navigated Covid-19. I believe her author’s note at the end of the picture book is just as important as the story itself. Nearly every face painted in the book is inspired by a REAL person- people who survived or succumbed to the awful virus. She also shares that the most challenging spread to illustrate was the one that explained why we sacrificed what we did because each character shown on the page gave her “both joy and pain.” In her final words, Pham notes that Outside, Inside is “a time capsule of our moment in history when the world came together as one to do the right thing.”

Picture Book          Marie Mengel, Reading SD