12 Books on Physical and Mental Wellness for Teens

by Jennifer Garry

Photo credit: martin-dm, E+ Collection/Getty Images

Wellness is a hot topic right now, and for good reason โ€” with stressful news cycles, upside-down schedules, and a global pandemic to grapple with, we can all use a reminder to take care of ourselves. It can be tricky to communicate this message of wellness for teens. For the most part, they donโ€™t want to hear it from their parents or other authority figures. Thatโ€™s where books can help.

These 12 books range from a memoir of someone who lost her mother to novels about teens struggling with mental illness and self-discovery, essays and stories from YA authors to guides from a coach and a fitness pioneer. All of them will help teens feel more connected, no matter what they might be facing.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2020 and updated in 2021.