“Tell them stories and let them tell their stories. Through stories, they begin to heal.” By Catherine Bruton

That advice came from a Trauma Informed Schools UK training session I attended in 2021. As well as being an award-winning writer of books for children and young people, I am also a teacher. Teaching English and Drama in secondary schools for over twenty-five years, I see first-hand the power of stories to heal.

UK schools have witnessed an exponential rise in mental health issues in recent years, particularly in key stages 2 and 3. According to the Mental Health Foundation, 50% of mental health issues are established before the age of 14. Like many teachers, I have found this heartbreaking to witness, but I also believe passionately in the power of stories to help! And so, I have made it my mission to seek out books — and to write stories — that explore these topics in ways that are accessible to Year 7 and 8 readers.

Recent research highlights the therapeutic role of stories in helping young people frame or express their own experiences, allowing an outlet for trauma and giving them an emotional vocabulary to articulate their feelings.  “We have many terms to name this — mentalization, emotional literacy, reflective thinking. In essence, it is the almost magical power of storytelling to transform and heal,” explains Kim S. Golding from Trauma Informed Schools UK and author of Using Stories to Build Bridges with Traumatized Children.

Stories can also offer children more healthy coping strategies. “A child can enter through the story world into a world of hope, options and possibility in the form of healthier, more creative coping mechanisms,” explains Golding. And teachers will be pleased to know this, stories can also impact classroom behaviour. “When a child’s too difficult or painful feelings are left un-talked about, they leak out in difficult and challenging behaviours” explains Dr Margot Sutherland, Director of Education and Training at the Centre for Child Mental Health, London. Narratives can provide a therapeutic outlet. “When a child is helped to think about his troubled feelings through story, it can prevent these feelings from building up into an awful mess inside.” 

My latest novel Bird Boy was born out of witnessing the heartbreaking spike in mental health problems in the wake of the pandemic. It features a young boy called Will who is struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Anxiety after the death of his mother. After years trapped in a high-rise flat, with only birds for company, Will is sent to the Lake District to live with an uncle he has never known. Here he encounters Omar — a refugee from Afghanistan — who is working through his own Complex Trauma, and the pair discover an osprey nest, with two small chicks inside. Will forms an unbreakable bond with the smallest chick, whom he names Whitetip, and is determined to save her life. As Will helps Whitetip to grow and to heal, he finds a strength inside himself that he never knew he had. Bird Boy was first inspired by a friend who works with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, using nature therapy to support traumatised children, including young refugees and asylum seekers. Her stories of their “green prescription groups” and “ecotherapy” using forest school and nature-based activities lie at the heart of the story I wanted to tell. Like my book No Ballet Shoes in Syria, which tells the story of Aya, a young Syrian asylum seeker recently arrived in the UK, it was also inspired by the hundreds of refugee children fleeing war in Rwanda, Bosnia, Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan and Ukraine whom it has been my privilege to teach. The letters and messages I have received from young people who have read both stories reinforces my conviction that stories really do have the power to heal.

In this blog, I consider some other amazing contemporary key stage 3 titles that explore topics such as anxiety, depression, OCD, eating disorders, emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), agoraphobia and self-harm in ways that are accessible for younger readers. There’s obviously a lot of overlap in topics, just as there are frequently co-morbidities with these mental health conditions, but hopefully, these titles which are sensitive, compelling, often funny and moving — always unputdownable — might just be the first step in a child’s healing process.

I have collaborated with Badger Learning to curate a collection of these books called Resilience Reads: Stories to Support Mental Health in Years 7–8. Browse the collection here.

Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) is increasingly prevalent among young people. The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson explores this, alongside the issue of agoraphobia, in the story of 12-year-old Matthew Corbin who hasn’t been to school for weeks and who witnesses a kidnapping through his bedroom window. This is both a compelling ‘whodunnit’ and a sensitive exploration of a complex topic which will keep young readers turning the pages. 

Perfect for fans of Robin Stevens! The Worrybot also explores EBSA and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) through the story of Josh who worries about everything — water slides, school, global warming, sleepovers — and Charlie the kid who can only join lessons remotely. It’s a lovely, warm, wise, funny, and wonderful story about how friendship can help you overcome your fears.

Cath Howe has worked with young people for years and her warm optimistic books are brilliant for opening up discussions around the challenges of friendship and family and developing resilience. How to Be Me explores Social Anxiety and grief in the story of painfully shy Lucas, who is sent — against his will — to a summer drama camp, where he is terrified he won’t make friends. A book filled with empathy and insight.

And, if you are looking for a graphic novel exploring the theme of Anxiety, look no further than the  Lightfall series by Tim Probert. These fabulous fantasy adventures with glorious illustrations and a lovely balance of humour and action, feature main protagonist Bea who struggles with anxiety but learns to overcome her fears whilst saving the world from eternal darkness!

The rise in Obsessive Compulsive Disorders has been particularly marked among young people making the transition to secondary school, notably among boys. It’s a topic I chose to explore in Bird Boy and Lily Bailey offers a sensitive depiction of the condition in When I See Blue which tells the story of Ben who is in the grip of the “brain bully” that is OCD. Whether it’s avoiding certain colours or doing things repetitively and in multiples of four, the obsessions start to take over his life — and fighting back will be the biggest battle he has ever known. It’s a moving and honest tale — with plenty of Dr Who references! Meanwhile, All The Things That Could Go Wrong by Stewart Foster brings together bully Dan, who is struggling with Anger Management, and his victim Alex, who suffers from OCD. When the two sworn enemies are stuck together for the whole of the school holidays — what could possibly go wrong? A gripping read that tackles important issues and shows there are usually two sides to every story.

Self-Harm is explored in C.C. Harrington’s wonderful Wildoak which also depicts Elective Mutism through the character of Maggie who will do almost anything to avoid speaking in class. Maggie discovers an abandoned snow leopard hiding in the nearby Wildoak Forest and the two of them build an understanding in secret. This story is truly beautiful and magical but also wonderfully empathic writing!  Elective Mutism is also the topic of Jacqueline Wilson’s short but sweet Lizzie Zipmouth about a girl who is struggling to fit into a newly blended family and takes refuge in silence. It is also the central theme of Being Miss Nobody by Tamsin Winter. Tamsin and I taught together, and I love her books which are as warm, wise and wonderful as she is! Rosalind is the weird girl who doesn't talk, so she starts a blog — Miss Nobody — a place where she has a voice. However, she quickly discovers the perils of saying exactly what you think in the online world. A great book for discussing online bullying too!

I am also a big fan of Tamsin’s Jemima Small Versus the Universe — which deals with Weight Issues, anxiety, Body Dysmorphia and body shaming with a strong message about learning to be happy with who you are. There are few books aimed at this age group which explore Eating Disorders, despite recent studies showing the rising prevalence of EDs in the under 12s. Good Enough by Jen Petro Roy depicts twelve-year-old Riley who is in recovery from an eating disorder which has caused her to become alienated from her friends and family and give up all the things she loves. Part of her wants to get better but the ED is fighting back, and recovery will be much harder than she thought. This story deals sensitively with this complex topic in a way that is accessible to a younger audience. Aimed at slightly older readers (perhaps Year 9+), Louder Than Hunger is another brilliant verse novel that features a male character battling with Anorexia, as well as OCD, anxiety, and depression.

There are so many fabulous books exploring young people coping with Grief. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is an extraordinary and heartbreaking tale of grief, healing and above all, the courage it takes to survive. Conor’s mum is dying of cancer, and in his dreams, he is visited every night by a monster who tells stories. This tale gives young people ‘permission’ to explore the ‘uglier’ side of grief. The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow also explores grief, alongside the fear of transition and Anger Management. Nate is preparing for the big change to high school but when his brother Dylan is rushed to hospital, his world turns upside-down. This powerful and lyrical verse novel explores the power of using words to overcome adversity.

The Girl Who Became a Tree by Joseph Coelho is another beautiful verse novel which weaves together the ancient legend of Daphne and a totally modern tale of grief and Depression. Daphne is unbearably sad and adrift after the loss of her father and seeks escape in her phone screen to block out the world around her. As she finds herself disappearing into the online abyss, can she find a way back to reconnect with the real world, friends and family? A gorgeous graphic novel series dealing with Depression and Social Anxiety is The Sad Ghost Club by Lize Meddings. The story of one of those days when you can barely get out of bed, when it’s a struggle to leave the house, and when you do, you wish you hadn’t. But when one sad ghost, alone at a crowded party, spies another sad ghost across the room, they start The Sad Ghost Club — a secret society for the anxious and alone, a club for people who think they don’t belong. Perfect for fans of Heartstopper!

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the theme of Ghost by Jason Reynolds. Aspiring athlete, Ghost, is running away from traumatic childhood memories and is out of control. His coach, an ex-Olympic medallist, sees Ghost’s crazy natural talent, but can he stay on track and harness this, or will his past finally catch up to him? Phil Earle also explores the topic of PTSD in the unforgettable war-time tale When the Sky Falls. It’s 1940, and out of control, Joseph has been packed off to London during the Blitz. Joseph meets Adonis, a huge silverback gorilla, and the boy — who has buried his own past trauma deep —  finds an affinity with the lonely beast. This glorious tale which also looks at dyslexia, grief and anger issues, makes a fabulous class read with lots to discuss

Catherine Bruton has been juggling life as a teacher, mum and award-winning children's writer for over two decades.  She has taught  in England and Africa  and is the author of critically acclaimed titles including 'No Ballet Shoes in Syria' (Winner of the Books are My Bag Readers Award, the Sheffield Book Award and the Middle East Childrens Book Award), 'Bird Boy' (recently nominated Times Children's Book of the Week) and the much loved 'Somersaults and Dreams' series, which she writes under the pen-name Cate Shearwater. Catherine believes in the power of stories to open children's eyes, widen their horizons, make them ask questions and switch on light-bulbs in their heads.  Her stories deal with contemporary issues  - from immigration to mental health  and the climate crisis - in ways that are accessible for younger readers and which always offer a ray of hope. 

Catherine has collaborated with Badger Learning to curate a collection of these books called Resilience Reads: Stories to Support Mental Health in Years 7–8. Browse the collection here.