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Toughie books. Issue books. Problem books. Whatever you want to call them, I guarantee, all of us have read at least one. They aren't some of my favorite when they are BIG issue books. The following list isn't a complete ten, but they deal with various tough topics.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Issue: Death
The girl has a happy family until one day, they all get in a car wreck and the teenage daughter is the only survivor. Without even reading the book, you know it will be heart wrenching. In one second, she loses her whole family. That's bad.
Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
Issue: Death/Cancer
The poor girl not only finds out that her father has a very soon end date, but also that she has to go face her former best friend and boyfriend. Parental/familial deaths get me every time.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Issue: Death/Cancer
Another death and cancer book, but still so different. The families are great, the characters are great, the writing is wonderful. If you remain stoic throughout this whole book, you have no soul. It's hilarious and sad.
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Issue: Eating disorder
While it doesn't go too in depth, it deals with how an eating disorder touches the whole family. The main character's sister gets an eating disorder, moves back home, and the protagonist doesn't know how to deal with it all.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Issue: War
Of course, what always comes with war? Death. The narrator is even Death himself! Powerful. Great. Amazing word-usage. Emotional.
The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Issue: Violence...and death
It's a dystopian world where 24 kids are sent into an arena to fight to the death. There's romance, violence, death, friendships, family. The first one was feeeeel-worthy, the second one was great, but the third? Once you get past the slow beginning...prepare to bawl your eyes out.
There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones
Issue: Eating disorder, depression (of sorts)
After her brother died, Finley decided that the only way to finish her musical piece and to get over any grief, she had to go on a trip that retraced her brother's steps in Ireland. There, she meets a movie star, develops an eating disorder, feels depressed, has insecurity problems...but the novel isn't dark. I don't know how to describe it, but it's one of my favorites.
Danger in the Shadows by Dee Henderson
Issue: Kidnapping
Before you look it up and go, "Sunny, this is an ADULT book!" Listen to me. Adult books aren't from the devil and this deals with dark things so I couldn't resist putting it up here. Sara and her sister Kim were kidnapped. Only one lived. Now Sara is in witness protection program and has to deal with flashbacks. I get creeped out every time.
I know that there are more out there...but I can't think of any that I truly enjoyed. I'll probably hit my head a couple times when I read other bloggers' lists. But for me, this is it. What are some books that you like that dealt with issues?
