TBH Book Club

The TBH Book Club is officially here! Every other month, we'll share a young adult, mental health-focused book selection for anyone (aged 14 to 25) to read. We'll then meet over Zoom to discuss the themes, important topics and enjoyable (or not-so-enjoyable) parts of each book.

Now that you're part of the club, check out our current book selection for August to October 2022:

"Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

Synopsis (taken from nationalbook.org): ""Caden Bosch is on a galleon that’s headed for the deepest point on Earth: Challenger Deep, the southern part of the Marianas Trench. Bosch is a brilliant high school student whose friends are starting to notice his odd behavior. He is designated the ship’s artist in residence to document the journey with images.

Bosch pretends to join the school track team but spends his days walking for miles, absorbed by the thoughts in his head. He is split between his allegiance to the captain and the allure of mutiny. He is torn. He is dealing with schizophrenia… and as fantasy and paranoia begin to take over, his parents have only one choice left."

Mental Health in Media Guide
A deep dive into how the media depicts mental health and what needs to change.

Excerpt from the guide: "The term media encapsulates a variety of mediums: art, film, news, literature, social media, and more! At its core, media is a form of communication. We may engage with media to see our stories reflected and validated, or to expand our worldview by interacting with unfamiliar stories.

Media has a big impact on our knowledge and attitudes, especially about topics with which we may not have personal experience. So, fair and accurate portrayals of mental health in media are key to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, which can further isolate individuals with mental illness and discourage them from seeking help."

Past Reads & Discussion Guides
Take a look at what our book club has read and download our discussion guides for your own use!

Darius the Great is Not Okay

by Adib Khorram

Darius the Great Is Not Okay follows the personal journey of Darius Kellner, an Iranian–American teenager with clinical depression, as he makes a best friend for life, reconnects with his grandparents, and repairs his relationship with his father (Wikipedia)

The Surprising Power of a Super Good Dumpling
by Wai Chim

Anna Chiu has her hands full. When she's not looking after her brother and sister or helping out at her father's restaurant, she's taking care of her mother, whose debilitating mental illness keeps her in bed most days. When her mother finally gets out of bed, things go from bad to worse. And as her mother's condition worsens, Anna and her family question everything they understand about themselves and each other.