My Life Beyond Bullying: A Mayo Clinic Patient Story - by Hey Gee (Paperback)

About the Book

A fictional graphic novel adventure story offers a kid's-eye view of what it's like to experience bullying.

Book Synopsis

Inspired by the memoirs of Ralph M.'s experience with bullying, My Life Beyond Bullying: Stories from Mayo Clinic Patients uses 36 pages of full illustrations to tell the true story of how kids view friendships, bullying, and challenging social situations.

When some kids at Alex's new school start bullying him, he just wants to escape. He feels guilty and stressed about what's happening. But what can he do?

The challenges Alex experienced are common. Still, there are important steps you can take when you or someone you know is being bullied. Find out how Alex gets help and discovers his life beyond bullying.
Children's voices are rarely heard amid the complexity of modern medicine. That's why every story in the My Life Beyond series stems from the imagination and experience of a Mayo Clinic patient. The books were developed through collaboration between these patients, Mayo Clinic physicians and author-illustrator Hey Gee. Through this unique lens of inspiring real-life experiences, the series explores how children view illness, challenges and recovery.

As kids go through adolescence, they're likely to experience some form of bullying. Inspired by Ralph M.'s experience with bullying, My Life Beyond Bullying uses 36 pages of full illustrations to provide an approachable look at improving mental health and emotional happiness when facing childhood bullies.

The My Life Beyond graphic novel series is published in collaboration with Fondation Ipsen.

Mayo Clinic Press Kids creates empowering health and wellness content in partnership with pediatric experts. Proceeds from the sale of every book go to benefit important medical research and education at Mayo Clinic.

Review Quotes

"Grades 3-6. The Mayo Clinic's My Life Beyond series takes the experiences of real kids and turns them into graphic-novel stories that both educate readers and offer support to those in similar situations [...] For all the titles, cartoon-style artwork relates the plot as well as the feelings and perceptions of the main characters. These stories will help readers understand others' experiences and build empathy while learning basic facts about common diseases, disorders, and social struggles." ― Booklist

Grades 3-6. The Mayo Clinic's My Life Beyond series (3 titles) takes the experiences of real kids and turns them into graphic-novel stories that both educate readers and offer support to those in similar situations. A short foreword, not much over a paragraph, by the child who inspired the story offers some context for the story to come, and high-level back matter best suited to caregivers or educators provides definitions of key medical terms and a note about the featured topic from the book's medical editor. Autism reads like straightforward nonfiction, though C. Ano's experiences with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are demonstrated through the fictional character of Tracy, who walks readers through some of the social, emotional, and sensory challenges she's overcome, as well as her hobbies and interests. For all the titles, cartoon-style artwork relates the plot as well as the feelings and perceptions of the main characters. These stories will help readers understand others' experiences and build empathy while learning basic facts about common diseases, disorders, and social struggles.-- "Booklist (February 1, 2022 (Vol. 118, No. 11))"

About the Author

Guillaume Federighi (AKA Hey Gee) is a French and American author and illustrator. He began his career in 1998 by exploring the world of street art and graffiti in different European capitals. After moving to New York, Hey Gee developed a reputation for a direct and instantaneous style of graphic design and illustration that brings out unifying ideas, creates distinctive characters, and affects all generations. He is also the owner and creative director of Hey Gee Studio, a full-service creative agency based in New York City.

Ralph M. is from Rochester, Minnesota. While he remembers the anxiety he felt when he was bullied in middle school, addressing the problem helped him to be a successful student. He went on to Yale University and Emory University School of Medicine and is pursuing a career as an eye surgeon. In his spare time, Ralph M. still loves to watercolor paint, hike with his dog, and hang out with friends, and he also enjoys cooking. Alex's watercolor (shown on page 30) is one of Ralph M.'s original paintings.

Dr. Bridget K. Biggs is a psychologist at the Mayo Clinic's Children's Center in Rochester, Minnesota. She is certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and focuses on treating anxiety disorders and chronic pain in children and adolescents. Dr. Biggs' published research, which includes over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, is centered on understanding the social aspects of emotional and physical well-being during childhood and adolescence. Dr. Biggs has made significant research contributions in the areas of (1) social influences on children's mental and physical health, (2) childhood anxiety assessment and treatment, (3) and behavioral interventions for children and adolescents. She currently serves as an Associate Professor of Psychology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.