Rating: 5 out of 5.

This is a really cute, impactful, and important book. As depression rates grow among children and teens, I’m so glad that the Mayo Clinic is working to get books like this out to the public.

Book cover for My Life Beyond Depression

About the Book

By Hey Gee and Gifty • Illustrated by Hey Gee

Inspired by Gifty’s experience with childhood depression.

Depression may show up differently in kids or teens, compared with adults. It may lead to behavioral outbursts, irritability, negative feelings or thoughts about themselves, and self-harm, such as cutting.

Follow along in this beautifully illustrated graphic novel, and learn how Bindu copes with her mood disorder, with help from her support system, and discovers life beyond depression.

My Thoughts

Beautifully illustrated and written, this book will help your child or teen understand depression easily. And, if it’s something they’re struggling with, it might help them open up to you about it. As the mother of an autistic daughter, I’m so excited to have resources like this at my disposal. Autism, ADHD, and many similar neurodivergences come with a high incidence of depression, and having something to help my daughter understand at an early age what she could deal with is a game changer. If you’ve ever tried to explain complicated topics to a small child – and what parent hasn’t? – then you understand the brilliance behind this book!

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or love a child in some other way, this is an excellent book! It is so unfortunate that the rates of depression seem to grow every year – in children, teens, and adults. They have to face things like bullying, school with ever-growing difficult standards, and so many other pressures that children didn’t have in the past. I love how this book showed the main character dealin with depression and a little bit of anxiety, and going through life. It also explained some of the symptoms that many people might not realize are depression related. Honestly, it’s not a bad idea to hand it to an adult in your life that might be struggling.

I am so pleased that the authors, Mayo Clinic Press, and Love Books Tours included me on this tour. I will absolutely look for more books by the author and along this line – educating children about mental health and other health issues. I’m a firm believer in educating yourself and being a great self-advocate and this helps kids do that just as easily as adults.

Who’s It For?

The book is labeled for 8-12 year olds and that seems right. It didn’t seem like my five-year-old would really be able to get it – mostly because it was too long. However, if you have a particularly patient and mature 6 or 7 year old the concepts don’t seem too difficult for them. I believe adults will also appreciate the simple language and explanations, as well as the beautiful art.

Content Warning: Discussion of Depression, Suicide, Medication, and Alternative Treatments

Today is just Day 2 of the Love Books Tours event for this book! Check out the other hosts and their thoughts about this amazing book!

About the Authors

Gifty

Gifty, who helped create this story about 12 year-old Bindu, has had depression since she was young. For her, it may be caused in part by living in a community with very little diversity and being physically disabled from a stroke early in her life. She is not able to participate in many of the activities that her peers do. She’d like to play sports such as soccer, volleyball and basketball, and to dance and act in plays. Her disability makes this very difficult and she feels left out of almost everything. She is 15 years old and wants to hang out with her friends, but her friends do not live in her small town. Her family is looking for a school that might better fit her needs, and moving to an area with more diversity and better resources is a possibility.

Gifty does have a good support system in her family and older friends who have similar interests, including social activism, poetry and music. She has also been able to reconnect with her birth family in Liberia, and she hopes to return in the next few years.

Gifty’s life has been challenging for sure, but she is and always has been a fighter. She is an inspiration to all who know and love her.

Hey Gee

Guillaume Federighi aka Hey Gee is a French-American author and illustrator.

Hey Gee is a true master of conceptual drawing. After exploring the world of graffiti and street art, while traveling across Europe and the world, he starts a career as a graphic designer in the earlier 2000’s, first in Paris, then in San Francisco and in New York where he currently lives and works.

Hey Gee has developed a reputation for translating complex ideas into simple, timeless visual stories.

Art director and creative director in design agencies, but also in editorial and publishing, he has never stopped drawing, in complete freedom. Nourished by these two passions between graphic design and illustration, it now combines a very safe graphic experience and unlimited creativity!

His latest books published by the Ipsen Foundation and Mayo Clinic have met with immense success. He was also a finalist for the Paris 2024 Olympics mascot, and caught the attention of McDonald’s for a digital campaign with DDB agency.

When he’s not working, Gee spends his personal time with his son exploring New York and the surrounding area.

Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram

amicarlton

Latest Posts