We asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us the book that helped them during their depression. Here are their powerful stories.
1. The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
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"Before my father died, he'd watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in his hospital bed. After he passed away from cancer, reading the Harry Potter books and is what helped keep me sane. This book series is one of the last attachments I have to my father. Harry Potter saved me more than once, and I can’t thank J.K. Rowling enough."
—Nadia Mohamed, Facebook
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
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"The Perks of Being a Wallflower doesn't make everything magically better, but it's a reminder that someone out there understands me. I read it whenever I feel like I'm going down a dark road."
—Vanessa Ngozi Anyanso, Facebook
3. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
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"Just like Francie, I turned to writing as a tool to explore my grief, and to realize our fathers were flawed men. I always knew I'd get through my grief because Francie survived, thrived, and never gave up hope, despite the darkness."
—Kelly Louro, Facebook
4. Wild by Cheryl Strayed
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"Finding a protagonist who also faces horrific real life situations and finds a way through them makes you believe that you can too. Cheryl Strayed reminded me that it’s ok not to be ok, and human determination is the most incredible tool."
—Anna Wyatt, Facebook
5. Will Grayson, will grayson by John Green and David Levithan
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"It helped me to read about a character that talks a lot about his depression because it helped me make more sense of my own. At the time I was insecure because nobody knew I was gay, and it was inspiring to read about a gay character."
—Chris Felding, Facebook
6. Yes Please by Amy Poehler
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"Amy Poehler is one of my role models, and Yes Please is so inspirational to me. It makes me feel like I can get out of my depression and take charge of my life."
7. The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
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"This book puts an emphasis on the importance of taking life one day at a time and taking pleasure in the little things. It's a great reminder that although battling depression seems like an impossible task, you will get through it."
8. It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
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"I could relate to Ned Vizzini's experiences of being a teenager who felt lost and who sometimes felt the only way out was through suicide. I credit this book with helping me see that we're all a little messed up and we're not alone."
—Katie Mailloux, Facebook
9. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
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"Anne of Green Gables is my comfort read. This little girl brings joy and laughter to her new cranky neighbors, and to me when I can't get out of bed on my lowest days."
10. The The Lord of the Rings series by J. R. R. Tolkien
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"I've had a couple different bouts of depression, and every time I turn to The Lord of the Rings series. I even call my depression ‘Sauron’ sometimes.'"
—Jack Snyder, Facebook
11. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
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"It’s relieving to see a little girl fight against evils that she feels so alone with, which is how depression feels to me. The whole book gives you a very intense and satisfying feeling."
12. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
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"Jane Eyre is determined to keep her self-respect, even though giving in to temptation would give her an easier life. This book makes me feel that I could make it on my own."
13. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
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"Elizabeth Gilbert helped me discover that I was depressed. She inspired me to quit a job I desperately hated, leave a relationship that was dangerously abusive, and rediscover the things and people I love."
—Hannah Douglass, Facebook
14. One Million Lovely Letters by Jodi Ann Bickley
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"I was in the middle of a breakdown, and it felt like Jodi Ann Bickley was giving me a warm, literary hug. She actually got me."
15. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
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"The idea of disappearing into a wonderland when I'm feeling at my worst is always a really comforting thought. It allows me to escape from everything going on around me and take a step back."
16. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
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"My AP English teacher assigned Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close during my senior year of high school. It taught me that we should allow ourselves to wear our “heavy boots”, but to never let them stop us from walking on in our lives."
17. The Mandarins by Simone de Beauvoir
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"The Mandarins reassured me that I wasn't alone in feeling worthless and crazy. It was the first light I saw and it came at my lowest point."
18. Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris
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"Shortly after losing my brother, I discovered the brilliant David Sedaris. His dry sense of humor was a huge comfort to me as it was very similar to my brother's. To this day, when I read this book, I hear my brother laughing."
—Zach Hunt, Facebook
19. Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
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"My roommate in the psychiatric hospital brought Hyperbole and a Half with her. We ended up being friends, and every day we’d sit together and read the book out loud. A book brought me closer to someone that knew what I was going through."
20. Chinese Cinderella: The Secret Story of an Unwanted Girl by Adeline Yen Mah
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"This character felt like a friend who understood my isolation, and she helped me find a way through it. Good books help you escape for a while, but Chinese Cinderella one helped me work through my emotions and figure out my own escape plan."
21. Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham
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"Reading how the main character, Franny, handled all of life's screwballs with a sense of humor and carefree attitude made me laugh again."
22. She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
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"Reading Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone helped me get through a tough time of abuse and coming of age. I still have my tattered, well-loved copy that I read occasionally to remember that time when I made it through."
—Destiny Varney, Facebook
23. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
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"This book reminded me how to laugh when I forgot how to. I was in the middle of the worst depressive episode of my life, and it wasn't until I read this book that I realized I needed help."
—Sarah Parker, Facebook
24. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
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"I highly recommend this book for anyone who feels like their life is worthless, and that they'll be nothing due to their suffering. Follow in Jeannette Walls' footsteps and make something remarkable from your pain."
25. The Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch
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"I was horribly bullied in 6th grade, and I was stuck without any friends. Max-Ernest, Yo-Yoji and Cass showed me that there will always be evil forces in your life, but they can be defeated."
—Isabella Philippi, Facebook
26. John Dies at the End by David Wong
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"When I was depressed I found that I couldn't read at all, which was horrible because I absolutely loved it. I came across John Dies at the End, and I found I was slowly able to get back into reading. It was the best feeling in the world."
—Laura Alexander, Facebook
27. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
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"A couple of years ago, I lost many close people in my life that overwhelmed my ability to cope. The simplicity yet poignancy of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's words came through my fog, and his message of love being worth it despite the pain was the only thing that gave me peace."
28. The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare
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"I started reading this series 7th grade, and it helped me immensely when I was in a mental hospital completely depressed. I was able to escape to another world in Cassandra Clare's books, and not have to think about what was happening around me."
—Kate V., Facebook
29. The 10 P.m. Question by Kate De Goldi
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"Frankie’s slow struggle to recovery resonates strongly with my own recovery process. Kate De Goldie helped me realize that it isn’t simple telling yourself to get over your depression. You're allowed to be upset."
30. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
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"Impulse made going to residential treatment less scary for me and made me feel like I wasn't the only one who was depressed, self-harmed, and had attempted suicide."
31. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
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"The Book Thief put my suffering into serious perspective. The characters were relatable and strong, which made me want to be strong. Being in a rough patch didn't mean it was the end of my life."
—Sage Davino, Facebook
32. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
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"I read Thirteen Reasons Why about a month before I started to recover last year. It was a messy year I never want to go back to, but it made me reevaluate my life and help my subsequent recovery."
33. And The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
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"I read Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar just after I was diagnosed with manic-depressive disorder in the beginning of college. I learned that therapy is frequently frustrating, but the best treatment is the one that makes you reclaim some sense of your original, independent self."
—Zac Triffiley, Facebook
Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
An earlier version of this post included Kate V.’s last name, but has since been changed.
