Books About Anxiety & Worry for Ages 12–18

Anxiety in adolescence can be paralyzing. Social anxiety, performance anxiety, the spiral of worst-case thinking that feels impossible to interrupt. These 538 books take all of it seriously and offer characters who are learning to function alongside the worry rather than waiting for it to disappear.

538 books

The Books of Bayern #4

Forest Born

Shannon Hale

Rin, a quiet girl burdened by a secret, finds her solace in the forest vanishing. Leaving home for the city, she uncover

Ages 10–14

You Know Me Well

David Levithan, Nina LaCour

Mark and Kate, strangers in class, find their paths crossing during an unexpected night out. Both grappling with the com

Ages 12–18

House of Hollow

Krystal Sutherland

Iris Hollow and her two older sisters are undeniably strange, forever changed after disappearing as children and returni

Ages 12–18

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Washington Irving

For readers who love a thrilling, classic ghost story with a dash of mystery and suspense. Will they outwit the Headless

Ages 8–12

You'll Be the Death of Me

Karen M. McManus

Three estranged friends ditch school, only to witness a murder that links them all to the victim and a web of dangerous

Ages 12–18

The Uninvited

Tim Wynne-Jones

Mimi escapes a troubling freshman year to her father's remote Canadian cottage, only to find a stranger living there. Wh

Ages 12–16

All the Bright Places

Jennifer Niven

Theodore Finch, fascinated by death, meets Violet Markey, consumed by grief, on a bell tower ledge. As they embark on a

Ages 12–18

Fat Angie #2

Fat Angie: Rebel Girl Revolution

e.E. Charlton-Trujillo

Sophomore Angie is miserable, grappling with her sister's death, a moved-away girlfriend, and relentless bullying. When

Ages 12–18

What If It's Us #2

Here's to Us

Becky Albertalli, Adam Silvera

College freshman Ben feels stuck, finding solace in a new writing partner. Meanwhile, Arthur is back in NYC for a theate

Ages 12–18

Starworld

Audrey Coulthurst, Paula Garner

Loner Sam and popular Zoe find common ground in their desire to escape reality. Through texts, they build 'Starworld,' a

Ages 12–18

The Way I Am Now

Amber Smith

As Eden's sexual assault case goes to trial, she reconnects with Josh, who is dealing with his own family struggles. Can

Ages 12–18

The Beautiful #2

The Damned

Renée Ahdieh

In this thrilling sequel, Sébastien is cursed, and war looms between immortals. Celine, recovering from a forgotten nigh

Ages 12–18

Cloud and Wallfish

Anne Nesbet

Noah's normal life shatters when his parents change his name and move him to East Berlin, where secrets and surveillance

Ages 9–12

Fazbear Frights #1

Into the Pit

Scott Cawthon, Elley Cooper

Dive into three sinister novella-length stories where Oswald, Sarah, and Millie's deepest desires come with terrifying,

Ages 12–18

They Both Die at the End #3

The Survivor Wants to Die at the End

Adam Silvera

Paz is done faking his lonely life and seeks to defy Death-Cast, while Alano, heir to the Death-Cast empire, faces threa

Ages 12–18

Solitaire

Alice Oseman

Tori Spring feels lost and unsure how to find happiness again. Alongside new friend Michael Holden, she delves into the

Ages 12–18

The Summer of the Swans

Betsy Byars

For teens navigating complex family relationships and self-discovery, this poignant story explores empathy and understan

Ages 10–14

The Golden Day

Ursula Dubosarsky

For preteens exploring themes of fear, friendship, and secrets, this haunting psychological mystery follows eleven girls

Ages 11–16

Diary of a Wimpy Kid #19

Hot Mess

Jeff Kinney

For kids navigating the hilarious chaos of extended family gatherings, this book normalizes feeling caught in the middle

Ages 8–14

The Perfect Score

David Levithan

Faced with the high-stakes SAT, six determined high school seniors unite with a common goal: to steal the answers. They

Ages 8–12

The Brimstone Journals

Ronald Koertge

Through interconnected poems, students at 'Brimstone' High reveal their struggles with violence, family dysfunction, cul

Ages 12–16

This Boy

Lauren Myracle

Paul Walden isn't an "alpha lobster," but he finds his stride with a loyal friend and a budding romance. Yet, in the cha

Ages 12–18

Defy #3

Endure

Sara B. Larson

Princess Alexa is engaged to King Damian, but their kingdom is under siege and her friend Rylan is a prisoner. Worse, Al

Ages 9–13

The Juvie Three

Gordon Korman

Gecko, Arjay, and Terence, all with troubled pasts, get a second chance at a unique halfway house. When their leader has

Ages 10–14