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Books About Shame & Guilt for Ages 12–18 – Wonderlit | Wonderlit

Browse → Ages 12–18 → Themes → Shame & Guilt → Ages 12–18

Books About Shame & Guilt for Ages 12–18

Teenagers carry guilt with particular intensity, partly because they're old enough to understand consequences and young enough to believe every mistake is permanent. These 2,884 books explore forgiveness, accountability, and the hard truth that being a good person doesn't mean never doing the wrong thing.

2,884 books

Cover of The Deep Dark

Molly Knox Ostertag

For the teen navigating the heavy weight of family secrets, old heartbreaks, and the quiet courage it takes to let someo

Cover of Pretenders

Five high school freshmen reveal their true selves, secret crushes, and family dramas through a collection of private jo

Cover of The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Ian Edginton, Oscar Wilde

For the teen exploring how their choices shape who they become, this graphic retelling explores the weight of secrets an

1 2 3 4...121

Cover of Counting Thyme

Counting Thyme

Melanie Conklin

Moving to Manhattan is supposed to be a temporary fix for her brother's medical trial, but Thyme struggles with the fear

Ages 8–12

Cover of Far From You

After surviving the attack that killed her best friend, Sophie must hunt for the murderer while fighting to prove her so

Cover of Bluefish

Thirteen-year-old Travis struggles to hide a major secret until a sassy classmate and a kind teacher help him find his v

Cover of Joey's Story: Straight Talk about Drugs

Joey's Story: Straight Talk about Drugs

For the parent or teacher needing a direct, realistic way to discuss the high stakes of substance abuse through a true s

Cover of Stalking Shadows

Stalking Shadows

For the teen who feels the weight of protecting a loved one from their own self-destructive nature while carrying the bu

Cover of Wild Pitch

Cal Ripken, Jr.'s All-Stars #1

Cal Ripken Jr., Kevin Cowherd

Robbie Hammond is a powerhouse pitcher haunted by a past mistake; he must find his rhythm and save the Orioles' season d

Cover of 100 Questions You'd Never Ask Your Parents: Straight Answers to Teens' Questions About Sex, Sexuality, and Health

100 Questions You'd Never Ask Your Parents: Straight Answers to Teens' Questions About Sex, Sexuality, and Health

Elisabeth Henderson, Nancy Armstrong

For the teenager seeking reliable medical and social facts about their changing body and relationships without the awkwa

Cover of Target

Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson

Sixteen-year-old Grady struggles to reconnect with the world and his new classmates while navigating the heavy trauma of

Cover of Invisible

Dougie lives through his model trains and his popular best friend Andy, but the lines between his imagination and realit

Cover of Fast Talk on a Slow Track

Fast Talk on a Slow Track

Rita Williams-Garcia

Denzel Watson is a high-achieving student who must learn what it really takes to succeed while selling candy and competi

Cover of Baseball's Biggest Bloopers

Baseball's Biggest Bloopers

For the young athlete who feels crushed after a mistake: discover how even the greatest legends in baseball history surv

Cover of Tales of Mystery & Imagination

Usborne Young Reading: Series Two

Tales of Mystery & Imagination

For the child who loves the thrill of a spooky story and is ready to explore classic literature through accessible, atmo

Cover of The Boundless Sublime

The Boundless Sublime

Desperate for peace after a tragedy, Ruby follows a mysterious friend into a secretive community that hides a dark and s

Cover of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the Suicide Club

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the Suicide Club

Robert Louis Stevenson

For the teen exploring the complex boundaries between their public self and private impulses, or the morality of right a

Cover of Phantom Limbs

Otis finds himself caught between a grueling swimming dream and the sudden return of the childhood friend who shared his

Cover of All Rivers Flow to the Sea

All Rivers Flow to the Sea

Seventeen-year-old Rose wanders through a landscape of grief and guilt as she searches for a way to say goodbye to her s

Cover of Caprice

For the child carrying a heavy secret or processing a difficult past, this story offers a path toward finding your voice

Cover of Secret Saturdays

Secret Saturdays

Torrey Maldonado

Justin must decide if saving his best friend from a downward spiral is worth the risk of losing their friendship forever

Cover of Private Lessons

Private Lessons

Cynthia Salaysay

For the teenager navigating the thin line between intense ambition and manipulation within a high-pressure mentor relati

Cover of After the Wreck, I Picked Myself Up, Spread My Wings, and Flew Away

After the Wreck, I Picked Myself Up, Spread My Wings, and Flew Away

Joyce Carol Oates

Everything feels raw and sharp for Jenna after the bridge accident, until a mysterious boy named Crow begins to pull her

Cover of Say Something

For the teenager grappling with the weight of being a bystander to bullying and the heavy moral choice of when to speak

More Ages 12–18 Books

Books About Gratitude & Appreciation for Ages 12–18(214)Books About Patience & Waiting for Ages 12–18(227)Books About Anger & Frustration for Ages 12–18(557)Books About Joy & Gratitude for Ages 12–18(730)Books About Embarrassment for Ages 12–18(827)Books About Letting Go for Ages 12–18(886)Books About Forgiveness & Redemption for Ages 12–18(886)Books About Jealousy & Comparison for Ages 12–18(1293)

Shame & Guilt for Other Ages

Books About Shame & Guilt for Ages 0–3(524)Books About Shame & Guilt for Ages 4–7(1908)Books About Shame & Guilt for Ages 8–11(2609)