Encourage teen boys to talk about mental health with author Stewart Foster

February 26th 2025

Books can spark conversations that may be hard to navigate without a prompt. It's one of the key reasons why getting young people reading is so important.

Author Stewart Foster's new eye-opening novel, Pieces of Us, gives readers insight into living with an eating disorder as a teen boy, and is inspired by his own experience. On our blog, Stewart highlights the importance of getting teen boys talking about their mental health, and how books like Pieces of Us can be the starting point for these often tough conversations.

Stewart Foster | Author Stewart Foster is an adult and children's novelist, born in Bath. His books have won multiple school and library awards and are recommended by Empathy Lab and Reading Well. His first children's book, The Bubble Boy, was published in 2016 and shortlisted for The Branford Boase Award. DISCOVER BOOKS BY STEWART FOSTER

Raising awareness through Pieces of Us

When I first came up with the idea of writing Pieces of Us, I came across a little resistance, online and even from a close friend. "Who wants to read about eating disorders?" and "Don’t go near it, you don’t know what you are talking about" were just two points made. And my answers to those questions are: I would, if that book was out there; and believe me, I do know what I’m talking about.

Much as I found those dissenting voices upsetting, it did highlight the sensitive nature of the subject but also the lack of awareness of the depth of the problem that faces many young males today. And that lack of awareness, if not ignorance, comes from the secrecy and ashamed nature that comes with the disease. So, I wrote Pieces of Us in the hope that it will promote discussions with young people.

Starting conversations about teen male mental health 

I’m often asked how I think we could get more young males to read, and my answer is always that I would place the ability and opportunity to talk openly and honestly about issues in their lives, above reading.

Of course, I want them to read. But if parents, teachers, librarians read Pieces of Us and then use it to instigate conversations, I am more than happy with that. We have to encourage talking about mental health, as a continuing silence and keeping thoughts in can make situations worse.

How books can spark conversation about mental wellbeing

Sometimes we just need something to kick-start those conversation. In order to do that, and to highlight mental health issues, a good way is to make books and the issues within them more visible. Placing a book in a prominent position in a library so students stop and look, or pick it up and just read the blurb, can start a conversation.

I also love the idea that teachers carry a book with them at all times for the same reason. I recall a very popular PE teacher when I was younger who would carry a book at all times, in school, on the coach to football matches. Such a simple thing by a role model took conversation away from sports to, "Sir, what’s that book about?".

I would love Pieces of Us to be used like that, for natural incidental conversations and not a formal series of PowerPoint slides in the main hall. Mental health discussions shouldn’t be a series of bullet points, it should be about creating an environment where people feel safe to talk about their feelings. And that brings my thoughts back to the library…. The often undervalued and underfunded department of many schools.

How libraries are vital to student wellbeing

For many students, libraries represent a safe space. The librarians within them are also people students feel they are able to trust, and it can fall upon library support staff to deal with the many problems their young people can face.

Somehow, we need to have those same conversations in other places as well: out in the open, not just in the library, where often quiet students head to at lunchtime.

Mental health issues can affect everyone. The loud, the quiet, the thoughtful, the outspoken, the shy, the confident. But, so often, we are wearing a mask to hide the problem. Everyone needs to talk sometime. If my book Pieces of Us kickstarts or helps that process, then I will be one happy and relieved guy.

Pieces of Us As the summer before college begins, Jonas is hiding a secret. He suffers with bulimia, but no one knows. Not even he knows how bad it really is. Until he meets Louis, a confident dreamer who believes in a better future for Jonas and together they enjoy a sun-kissed summer filled with music, memories and life-changing moments. But when tragedy strikes, Jonas must decide if he has the strength to face things alone... £11.09   Save 26% DISCOVER

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