Top Ten Books That Were Hard For Me To Read

 It's Top Ten Tuesday time! I'm linking up over at The Broke and The Bookish. I am going to try to be better about doing these posts every week if I am able to. At least, I will really try to do them when I like the prompt for the week. This week is all about books that were hard for me to read. We had some ability to choose on this one; it could be books that were just actually difficult to read, cringeworthy, or because of subject matter. Personally, based on what I will have more of, I believe I am going to go with the Top Ten Books That Were Hard For Me to Read due to Subject Matter. Here we go! 

1. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - This book was difficult because I had an idea of what was going on, but I did not really want it to be true. As it got further into the book and things began to be revealed it became even more difficult to read, too.
2. Brutal Youth by Anthony Breznican - This book is all about bullying going to a horrible level, and teachers not doing anything about it but making the whole thing worse. As a teacher, it was very difficult to read.
3. Positive: A Memoir by Paige Rawl - Another one about just how awful bullying can be. While this story was eye-opening and inspiration, it was also incredibly hard to get through because of everything Paige had to go through.

4. Dreamland by Sarah Dessen - Relationship abuse is a difficult thing to read about, no matter the story or ages of the characters. This one is another eye-opening one and I think it's important for teen girls to read, but it does not make it any easier.
5. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson - This one is INCREDIBLY difficult to get through, despite being one of my favorite books. What the main character has to go through is awful, and it's even worse to think about just how many people have gone through the same sort of thing. It's heartbreaking.
6. Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell - I thought that this book was really good, but really difficult to read, especially towards the end (if you've read it, you know what I'm talking about). It was difficult to read about a young character who enjoys/thinks about killing so much.

7. My Story by Elizabeth Smart - If you know the story of Elizabeth Smart, then I am sure you know why this book is hard to get through. It even caused some nightmares, actually. Still, it was a wonderful read. Some people are so, so strong.
8. This Star Won't Go Out by Esther Earl - Another one that should be pretty self explanatory if you know what the book is about. It's hard to see someone so young lose the battle to cancer.
9. How I Got Skinny, Famous, and Fell Madly in Love by Ken Baker - This one hit home because I am not very comfortable with my own body. It has changed quite a bit over the past year or so, and I'm trying to find a way to love myself as I am, but it has not been easy. This book is all about accepting yourself with how you are, and it's definitely something I struggle with myself.

10. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - While I love this book, and have even re-read it a couple of times at this point, it's not easy for me to read. I am a very emotional person, and so this book gets to me pretty good no matter how many times I read it. While I love it, it's still hard for me to get through it (I certainly can't do it without crying!).

What books were hard for you to read?