Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Kelly's Top Ten Books Dealing With Tough Subjects


For the future Top Ten schedule and how to participate go HERE!

Compared to last week's topic, things are about to get depressing up in here. Today's subject is about books dealing with tough subjects, whether it be abuse, suicide, grief, or just whatever speaks to you personally.


  1. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson - We get slammed with two tough subjects here: a friend's death and an eating disorder. Before reading this, I never really knew how destructive and complex anorexia could be for everyone involved. Of course, Anderson's Speak should also get a mention here.
  2. Crank by Ellen Hopkins - This is the first book in a trilogy about a girl who gets caught up in a drug addiction and how her choices affect her family, friends, and life. It's very dark and VERY powerful.
  3. Dreamland by Sarah Dessen - When I picked up this book I expected it to be a light, fluffy (and I mean fluffy in a good way) read like the majority of Sarah Dessen's other books, but I was completely wrong. Dreamland is almost scary with its realistic scenarios of domestic abuse. 
  4. Hold Still by Nina LaCour - I only read this within the last week but it's one of the most accurate books portraying the grief after death (in this story's case, a friend's suicide). The feelings of depression and despair the main character experiences are completely real.
  5. If I Stay by Gayle Forman - If you ever want a book to completely break your heart, this is it. A car crash is traumatizing enough, but when it kills your entire family and leaves you alone...heartbreaking. 
  6. The Fault in our Stars by John Green - While of course all of John Green's books are witty, fun, and full of adventure, they all have a more serious side. This is one of his best, bringing the wake of cancer and it's side effects to life.
  7. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay - Though mostly fictional, this book regales the horror of concentration camps during WWII. This particular story takes place in France, and the Nazi monstrosities that were allowed to happen on French soil still haunt the citizens of France to this day.
  8. The Help by Kathryn Stockett - Almost as much as what went on in WWII, the racial prejudice in America absolutely sickens me. Kathryn Stockett's story of 1960s Mississippi made me nervous, uncomfortable, and scared while reading it.
  9. A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer - Even scarier because it really happened, this is a terrifying tale of an abusive mother, both physically and psychologically. 
  10. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson - This is another book I thought would be a nice, light read but left me SOBBING by the end. As opposed to The Fault in our Stars, this book looks more at the effect of cancer on an entire family.



45 comments:

  1. If I Stay is on my list too! I almost put The Help on there, but somehow forgot about it after thinking of it.

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  2. I love how this week's topic is the polar opposite of last week!

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  3. CRANK + Wintergirls are two books on my bookshelves that I have not gotten to. I bet you could google my name and Wintergirls and all the times I've said I have to read it and haven't gotten to it yet. (I hang my head in shame.) I do agree that Morgan's is a great choice, and Dreamland! That is the Sarah Dessen book I am really wanting to read. Great list!

    (I haven't read of that Nina LeCour book but I am off to look it up now! Thanks!)

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  4. I have a feeling like If I Stay will now be on every list I make since I read it. And that Dessen book sounds really interesting it's one of hers I haven't gotten to yet

    My Top Ten

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  5. I had The Fault in Our Stars on my list, too. I guess it will appear on a few more lists... :)

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  6. I can't believe I forgot If I Stay! And I didn't even 'find' 10 books to put on my list... *wonders if she'll change her list or not*...

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  7. Great list... there are couple on there (like The Fault in Our Stars) that I still need to read! I listed Second Chance Summer as well... I just finished it and it completely wrecked me!

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  8. Some great books on your list. I loved reading The Help and Sarah's Key. Completely forgot to put them on my list.

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  9. This was a really hard category this week. You've made interesting choices, I'll have to track down some of the books mentioned.

    Sarah

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  10. The Fault in Our Stars and Sarah's Key are both on my list this week as well. What a contrast to last week's topic! I've been wanting to get to If I Stay, and it looks like you've given me a few more to consider as well.

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  11. Great list - there's some on there I need to add to my TBR pile!

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  12. I forgot about The Fault in our Star..your list are nice

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  13. Omg yes If I Stay and TFiOS I had in my list too!

    I've heard about Second Chance Summer and I've yet to finish a Sarah Dessen book but I've heard a couple deal with tough subjects.

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  14. Just when I think I have made the perfect list...wham! I visit your blog and you give a recommendation that I forgot to list. How could I have forgotten Speak?!

    Here's my list of top ten books that deal with tough subjects.

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  15. I think The Fault in Our Stars is gonna be a pretty popular topic this week!

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  16. Wintergirls was on my list too. I'll have to check out some of the others!

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  17. Wintergirls was on my list too. I'll have to check out some of the others!

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  18. I included Hold Still and Second Chance Summer too - love them! I really need to read most of the others you've listed!

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  19. I have no idea how I managed to forget about Laurie Halse Anderson. I love Laurie Halse Anderson. I did consciously decide not to include any John Green, but that's because I won't put his books, or Harry Potter, in lists like this anymore.

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  20. I forgot about Dreamland. You are right - a great depiction of domestic abuse. It must be so scary to get sucked into that situation. It was scary just reading about it.

    CeCe @ Steaming Mug of Books

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  21. I really liked this week's Top Ten Tuesday. I used to read books with tough subject matter all the time but most of the ones on my list are old books. It's good to see the modern ones on all the lists. Now I have books to add to my to-read list. The Dave Pelzer books are perfect for this list! I read the first two when I was really young.

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  22. How could I have left A Child Called It off my list!??! Aargh... lol

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  23. I Included TFIOS, too! It's the best cancer book I've ever read, as far as being authentic and real, without overdoing it on the bitterness or sap. I also love SPEAK and THE HELP. While the CRANK books are completely disturbing, I also thought they were very compelling and eye-opening.

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  24. I still need to read Wintergirls. I should get on that.

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  25. I've heard great things about Second Chance Summer and If I Stay. I'll have to pick those two up. Great list!
    -Natalie @Natflix&Books

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  26. I'm surprised by Sarah Dessen on this list, since all the books I've seen of hers seem light and entertaining.

    Like Natalie above, I keep hearing good things about Second Chance Summer and If I Stay. The first is on my Goodreads list and I'll be adding the second right now.

    Erin @ YA Book Crush

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  27. I got mixed feelings while picking books for this topic because it reminds me of so much heartbreaking moments in the books but I'm also glad because the more we know about the tough subjects included, the more we know how to deal with it. Nonetheless, I like this week's topic :)

    Tirta
    http://iprefereading.blogspot.com

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  28. It's surprising how few of these I've actually read. Great picks!

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  29. Your list is so good. I wish I could just have everything on it. I have so much to say since I've read all of these except #9. Many of my friends in high school told me to read it, but I couldn't bring myself to, so so intense. But sounds like we're similar readers being drawn to the emotional material!

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  30. This was the first time I've participated in the Top Ten challenge - how fun! Now to go add to my to-read list :)

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  31. Wintergirls and If I Stay are on my list too. Just heartbreaking, but beautiful books. I put Looking for Alaska on my list...but The Fault in Our Starts is definitely an important one!!

    Great topic this week. :)

    -Lauren

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  32. Great list! I have SPEAK on mine. Anderson doesn't shy away from tough subjects.

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  33. "The Fault in Our Stars" is on my list too. I thought it'd be hard to populate this list, but, turn's out, there are some great authors doing great things with hard to talk about topics!

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  34. Good topic!! I haven't read a lot of them...but I didn't know that Second Chance Summer was sad!! AHHH now I haveeeee to read it. I'm a huge fan of sad books. It's totally weird, but true. ;)

    Sierra @ Yearning to Read

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  35. I'm currently reading John Green's The Fault in Our Stars and I'm a little scared to keep turning pages, because I know he's going to make me cry.

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  36. I've only read Speak out of the books you mentioned. But, I want to read many of the others, especially A Fault in Our Stars.

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  37. So many of these just went on my "to read" list, but I think I'll have to wait for the right day. Books with issues tend to make me cry. A lot. Definitely getting on board with Top Ten Tuesday next week!

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  38. Nice list! I've actually read four of those books! *yay* If I Stay (which had me crying almost the whole time!), The Fault in Our Stars, The Help and Sarah's Key. I really enjoyed all of them!

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  39. I loved If I stay Too and while I thought about that for my list - I really was drawn to Where She Went b/c it shows the aftermath. Great list - a lot of these books are on my "to read" list too! The Fault in Our Stars especially, but because it's something that is super personal to me, I'm not sure if I can get through it - but from all the reviews, I think I have to try. Hard list to think of, but worth it.. Great list. Happy Tuesday everyone!

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  40. If I Stay and TFiOS were also on my list! I should really start Second Chance Summer. It's been on my shelf for months!

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  41. Wow! What an impressive list! My Goodreads list continues to grow. Thank you for so many intriguing suggestions!

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  42. TFIOS made mine too! Great list(:
    http://www.nobentspines.blogspot.com/

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  43. Great list! I will definitely have to check out some of these books when I'm in the mood for a more serious, dramatic story with real life circumstances!

    Thanks for putting this together!

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  44. I thought the same thing about Second Chance Summer. Rarely, if ever, do books ever make me cry, but I bawled as well at the end of this story, too. Such a fantastic novel.

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  45. Awesome list. I listened to If I Stay on Audiobook. I seen The Help, but I bet the book is better.
    Shawna's Survey

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