A therapist needing help from the most well read community on earth

I’m running into a problem. My clientele are young ish male inmates who are traumatized, egotistical and embarrassed. They are people with value and potential and I want the best for them too.

Needless to say when I meet with them they are very reluctant to start the therapeutic process. They just sit there and silently bleed out all the while saying, “I’m good , it is what it is”.

But what if… Just what if I sat down with a 6-8 inmates and read something that helps them talk about their feelings with out talking about their feelings?

It’s my opinion that most but not all men are more comfortable talking about something else as the primary target with each other than getting personal right off the bat. We don’t like face to face direct personal engagement. My opinion only. OPINION.

That being said, I don’t know what books would be good for that kind of engagement. I thought maybe Grendel but it’s too advanced. Then I thought maybe SE Hinton but it’s too dated. Catcher in the Rye but it’s too abstract.

I am searching for a 9th 10th grade level book where I can say something like, “ when X had to break up with Y because his …. what do you think he had to say to himself to keep going?”

Or , “has anyone else ever felt like this character ?” Or “who’s ever had to hear about their loved one getting killed like pony boy did?”

Any suggestions on a fictional story that is emotionally healing or even emotionally stimulating would be great.

I’d Ask my therapist friends but we’re not the most well read people don’t let us fool you.

Thanks for your suggestions