New York Life launches graphic novel to help children process grief

In response to the emotional toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on children, the New York Life Foundation, in partnership with creative agency Anomaly, has introduced a new resource for bereaved families.

The COVID-19 pandemic left over 300,000 American children without a parent or caregiver, creating an urgent need for support to help these children navigate their grief.

The centerpiece of this initiative is Lost in The Middle, a graphic novel that emphasizes collective healing and grief. The New York Life Foundation has a history of philanthropy, granting over $415 million in charitable contributions in the United States since its establishment in 1979, with more than $70 million allocated to childhood bereavement programs.

Lost in The Middle follows the journey of Kai, an eighth-grader, as he assists incoming middle schoolers transitioning to a new school while grappling with his own grief. It builds upon the 2020 series “Kai’s Journey,” which includes a film and three-book series designed for children and families dealing with the loss of a loved one. The series features Kai and his mother navigating a profound family loss, offering guidance and support to help children better understand, process, and communicate their grief. Watch the trailer below:

This latest graphic novel addresses challenging topics related to grief and the loss of middle school experiences, such as moving away from friends or losing important figures in their lives. By portraying how Kai and his school community collectively grieve and grow, the book serves as a model for addressing complex and difficult subjects and moving toward collective healing.

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Additionally, all the books are available in Spanish, along with supplementary resources like parent and educator discussion guides. The New York Life Foundation has also developed discussion guides for educators and families to facilitate productive conversations about challenging topics, including how to collectively grieve and heal.

First Book, a national nonprofit dedicated to promoting educational equity, will feature the e-book on its website, along with public service announcements (PSAs) highlighting how books like Lost in The Middle and the Kai’s Journey trilogy can assist children in processing grief. New York Life, its employees, and agents will provide copies of the graphic novel and host book events at various schools in New York City and across the country during Children’s Grief Awareness Month in November.

To increase visibility for the graphic novel, there will be an upcoming activation at Comic-Con in New York, moderated by national correspondent for ABC News, Will Reeve. Will Reeve, who lost both his father, Christopher Reeve, and his mother, Dana Reeve, at a young age, will lead the panel discussion “How Books & Graphic Novels Can Help Children on Their Grief Journeys.”

This event aims to bridge the gap between the Comic-Con venue and the topic of childhood grief. Maria Collins, VP of the New York Life Foundation, and other graphic novel authors will join Reeve on the panel.

The first three books in the Kai’s Journey series, The Golden Sweater, The Girl with a Locket, and The Fishless Lake, are designed for elementary school-aged children and can be downloaded for free here.

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