Top Ten Tuesday: Books Dealing With Tough Subjects

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke And The Bookish. Head over there and join in on the fun!

Topic for this week:

Top Ten Books Dealing With Tough Subjects

(abuse, suicide, grief etc or something personally hard for you)

1. Burned by Ellen Hopkins: First book I ever read by her. And it was a doozy. I mean, seriously, I was clenching my fist, crying, and my heart was breaking even AFTER I finished the book. It touches on abuse when it comes to religion. Very powerful story. I should reread this before the sequel comes out this fall.

2. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen: It was the one book by her that really got to me. I can't go into detail about the 'tough subject' in the story without giving away the ending. I can say this--the lessons learned were layered. It wasn't just the main story, it was the side stories that really completed the novel.

3. If I Stay by Gayle Forman: A girl with a choice between living and dying? Dealing with grief only in her head? This one really hit me hard because I read it RIGHT after a friend of mine died in a car accident. I probably cried more because of that fact.

4. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher: Suicide is one of those things that really gets to me. Hearing the reasons why from the person who chooses to do so really gets you to thinking about how we interact with one another. How important it is for us to be kind to everyone we meet and interact with because we do not know what the other person is going through.

5. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson: I don't know how it feels personally to struggle with weight issues that lead to anorexia/bulimia/cutting, but this really opened my eyes. I literally got chills and a bit squeamish. It's a scary reality with both boys and girls these days. Understanding the thoughts behind the actions truly helps us to help them.

6. Heart On A Chain by Cindy C. Bennett: Another story dealing with one abusive parent and one alcoholic parent. As I mentioned in my review, the alcoholic parent touches me personally. The story was perfectly put together from start to finish, the reality of it all wasn't held back.

7. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins: This was the second Ellen Hopkins book I read. One thing I'll never forget is that I was sitting in my moon chair at one in the morning (one of the books that sparked the title of my blog, by the way), my eyes GLUED to the page, eyes watering and tears spilling over. This one deals with depression and everything that can be associated with it. The three main characters have unique, heartbreakingly real stories. I still get chills thinking about it.

8. Say Goodnight, Gracie by Julie Reece Deaver: One of the earlier books I read that made me cry. Going into the book, I must not have read the synopsis or something because I was blindsided by the death. What makes it worse is the scene that takes place RIGHT before it happens. In any case, this one takes you on an inner journey dealing with grief.

9. Fault Line by Janet Tashjian: I read this when I first started reading YA novels (like right out of high school). When it comes to abusive relationships, I could never understand how a girl (or guy) could allow themselves to be in one. But when you read about someone facing that situation, you can really get a grasp on the feelings behind the acceptance. Not that it makes it okay to let it happen, just that psychologically it hits you why it happens.

10. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson: This one is hard-hitting in many ways. There is the main reason behind why Melinda doesn't speak (it's a spoiler!), but there is also the bullying aspect. How easy it is for people to assume one thing when the reason behind it is entirely another. I have to say, the movie for this book was very well made. A lot of people don't like Kristen Stewart's acting but I thought for this adaptation she did a decent job portraying our protagonist and everything she is going through.

~A couple others I would be remiss not to mention:

Multiple Choice by Janet Tashjian (OCD),

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson (death/grief/absent parent),

Hold Still by Nina LaCour (death/suicide),

and Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams (severe abuse).

I know there are so many more, but it is quite hard to narrow it down... especially to ten.~

So, how about you? Are there any certain books that deal with tough subjects that really strike you deeply? I would love to hear your suggestions!