Chris Buchanan Shares Her New Graphic Novel for Young Grievers
I had such a great discussion with Chris Buchanan for this episode. Chris has written a graphic novel for grieving teens and kids – something that is unique among the grief literature. She was inspired to write this book because of a death in her community, and she brought her many years of expertise as a speech-language pathologist to the task of writing this book in order to create a different type of resource for parents and professionals working with grieving children and teens.
Summary of Key Points:
Chris Buchanan's Background: Chris Buchanan, a speech-language pathologist with over 22 years of experience, authored a unique graphic novel aimed at grieving teens and children, inspired by a death in her community.
Graphic Novel for Grieving Kids: Buchanan's novel is distinct in the grief literature landscape, designed to cater to an audience that lacks specific resources—grieving kids and teens. It leverages her extensive experience to address the complex topic of grief in a format accessible to young readers.
Inspiration Behind the Novel: The novel was inspired by the real-life story of a young individual named Corey who passed away at 23. Buchanan knew Corey personally and wrote the book with the blessing of Corey's mother, aiming to help those who knew him and others dealing with similar losses.
Content and Format of the Novel: The novel, titled R.I.P. Corey, My Friend Died and It Sucks, is presented in a graphic novel format, which differs from traditional children's books by providing a narrative through pictures and words, making it accessible to a wide range of reading levels and abilities.
Purpose and Audience: Buchanan designed the novel to serve as a resource for parents, professionals, and especially for kids and teens navigating grief. It aims to provide a medium for expression and understanding around the topic of loss, using straightforward language and visuals to make complex emotions more comprehensible.
Integration of Personal and Professional Insights: The novel incorporates Buchanan's professional insights as a speech-language pathologist, ensuring it's accessible to children with special needs and varying abilities. The content is kept simple, focusing on grief without intertwining with other complex storylines, making it relatable and understandable for its intended audience.
Facilitating Communication and Understanding: By focusing on questions rather than answers, the novel encourages readers to explore their feelings and thoughts about grief, promoting communication with adults and peers. This approach aligns with Buchanan's background in speech-language pathology, emphasizing the importance of expressing and processing complex emotions.
Links & resources for this episode
RIP Corey: My Friend Died and It Sucks, by Chris Buchanan
Chris Buchanan’s website
Episode 51: Camp Erin, Camp Mariposa, and the Eluna Network's Resource Center
Episode 87: Karen Phelps Moyer on Dating and Reimagining Love After Loss
Episode 112: Karen Phelps Moyer on Reimagining Love
More links for listeners
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