Issues? A Child Called It, and Issue-driven fiction for Teens

Dave and Richard Pelzer's books

A Child Called It:: One Child's Courage to Survive Dave Pelzer
The Lost boy : A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family Dave Pelzer
The Privilege of Youth : A Teenager's Story of Longing for Acceptance and Friendship Dave Pelzer
A Man Named Dave : A Story of Triumph and Forgiveness Dave Pelzer
A Brother's Journey : Surviving a Childhood of AbuseRichard Pelzer
A Teenager's Journey : Overcoming a Childhood of Abuse Richard Pelzer


Twisted Laurie Halse Anderson 17 year old Tyler enjoys his tough reputation and the attentions of a popular girl, but when life starts to go bad again, he must choose between transforming himself or giving in to his destructive thoughts.

Speak Laurie Halse Anderson Melinda stops speaking after speaking up and calling the police at a party.

Alt Ed Catherine Atkins Susan and Brendan have to participate in a 12 week after-school group therapy session- or be expelled.

Candy Kevin Brooks Joe desperately wants to save beautiful Candy from a life of drug use and prostitution.

Smack Melvin Burgess Gemma and Tar run away from home, only to fall into the trap of heroin addiction.

The facts speak for themselves Brock Cole At the request of her social worker, thirteen-year-old Linda gradually reveals how her life with her unstable mother and her younger brother led to her rape and the murder she witnessed.

Just Listen Sarah Dessen Annabelle's reluctance to deal with confrontation has devastating results.

Party Girl Lynne Ewing Ana and Kata have always played together, and then they partied together. What will Ana do without her?

I Am an Artichoke Lucy Frank 15 year old Sarah is caught between a mother and her anorexic daughter.

Perfect Natasha Friend Isabelle's need to be perfect drives her to bulimia.

Fat Kid Rules the World K.L. Going 17-year old Troy gets a chance to play drums in a band with a homeless guitar genius.

Stone Cold Pete Hautman Sixteen-year-old Denn finds himself alienating both friends and family when he becomes obsessed with playing high-stakes poker with adult gamblers.

Second Star to the Right Deborah Hautzig Leslie can never be thin enough. Written by an author who suffered from anorexia.

Kissing Doorknobs Terry Spencer Hesser Fourteen-year-old Tara describes how her increasingly strange compulsions begin to take over her life and affect her relationships with her family and friends.

Crank Ellen Hopkins Kristina, the perfect daughter, has an alter-ego she calls Bree- and Bree is into crank.

You Don't Know Me David Klass John suffers abuse from his violent step-father.

Stoner and Spaz Ron Koertge Ben and Colleen are unlikely friends.

The Loser's Club John LeKich Alex has a way to deal with Jerry, the school bully.

Inexcusable Chris Lynch High school senior and football player Keir sets out to enjoy himself on graduation night, but when he attempts to comfort a friend whose date has left her stranded, things go terribly wrong.

RX Tracy Lynn Thyme is an honors student, popular, on student council, and a drug dealer.

Cut Patricia McCormick Callie is sent to Sea Pines, a therapy facility, to deal with her self-mutilation issues.

Anything to win Gloria Miklowitz To increase his chances of winning a college scholarship, a talented high school quarterback risks his health by taking anabolic steroids to gain weight

Past forgiving Gloria Miklowitz Fifteen-year-old Alexandra finds that her boyfriend Cliff demands all her time, isolates her by his jealousy, and finally becomes physically abusive.

Bottled up : a novel Jaye MurrayA high school boy comes to terms with his drug addiction, life with an alcoholic father, and a younger brother who looks up to him.

The Beast Walter Dean MyersA visit to his Harlem neighborhood and the discovery that the girl he loves is using drugs give sixteen-year-old Anthony Witherspoon a new perspective both on his home and on his life at a Connecticut prep school.

The Keeper Phyllis Reynolds NaylorJunior high school student Nick must face the fact that his father is plunging fast into serious mental illness.

Lisa Bright and Dark John Neufeld Lisa's family and teachers won't face her deep depression.

The Body of Christopher Creed Carol Plum-Ucci When Christopher Creed, class loser, disappears, why does everyone want to blame Bo Richardson?

The Night My Sister Went Missing Carol Plum-Ucci Kurt doesn't understand what happened at first- but as the night goes on, horrible secrets are uncovered.

The boy from the basement Susan Shaw A twelve-year-old boy is confined to his basement without food or clothing

Project X Jim Shepard Edwin and Flake can't take any more- and they have a plan to put a stop to it.

Go Ask Alice Beatrice Sparks Alice's diary describes her slide into heavy drug use.

Kim: Empty Inside Beatrice Sparks Seventeen-year-old Kim, feeling the pressure of maintaining an A average to stay on her college gymnastics team, becomes obsessive about her weight and develops anorexia.

Give A Boy A Gun Todd Strasser Gary and Brendan are sick of being bullied, and they have a terrible plan to put an end to it.

Fair Game Erika Tamar High school senior Laura Jean is shocked when the school jocks are accused of gang-raping a retarded girl and her boyfriend Scott appears to be involved.

The Game Teresa Toten Dani and Kelly were always there for each other, like sisters should be. So why is Danni alone at Riverwood Clinic?

Inside Out Terry Trueman A sixteen-year-old with schizophrenia is caught up in the events surrounding an attempted robbery by two other teens who eventually hold him hostage.

The Rules of Survival Nancy Werlin Matt addresses the abuse he and his siblings suffered from their bipolar mother.

Memories of Summer Ruth White Lyric and her sister Summer have a hard time adjusting to the move from Glory Bottom, Virginia to Flint, Michigan.

NONFICTION

Please Stop Laughing at Me… Jodee Blanco A shocking, disturbing look at bullying and social torture, and an inspiring story of resilience and survival.

The Basketball DiariesJim CarrollThe rock singer's account of losing his chances at being a pro-basketball player because of drug use is searing.

Stick Figure: A diary of my former selfLori GottliebLori’s high school diary records her battles with bulimia.

Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy ChildhoodJulie GregoryJulie tells her disturbing story about growing up suffering a rare form of child abuse, and her eventual, against-all-odds recovery.

SybilFlora Rheta SchrieberSybil is a true story based on one of the most severe cases of Multiple Personality Disorder and child abuse known.

Katie.com: My StoryKatherine TarboxKatie was 13 when she met Mark on the internet- it wasn't till they met in person that she found out that "Mark" was a pedophile in his 40s named Frank.

More Resources

Surviving the Roller Coaster: A Teen's Guide To Coping With Moods Jean Ford

Nothing to Be Ashamed Of: Growing Up With Mental Illness in Your FamilySherry Dinner

Respect: A Girl’s Guide to Getting Respect and Dealing When Your Line Is CrossedCourtney Macavinta and Andrea Vander Pluym

The Teenage Guy's Survival Guide Jeffrey Dandry

When Nothing Matters Anymore: A Survival Guide For Depressed Teens Bev Cobain

Teen Addiction Edited by Paul Winters