by Jonah, age 15

Why we're lovin' it: Sometimes we lose someone close to us. It happens to the best and worst of us, and it's simply a part of life. But what happens when someone who is close to you dies and you didn’t always get along? What if there was a conversation you wanted to have with a loved one who passed but you never got to have that conversation? Well, that’s (partially) what the book Maus is about.

In the book, we follow Vladek Spigelman as he remembers his life through the holocaust. The book is written and narrated by Vladek’s son, Art. When Vladek dies, Art in my opinion, handles the death quite well. But here's the thing: Art didn't like his dad. Now, obviously Art loved his dad, but Art didn't really like him.

This was for good reason. Vladek was constantly mistreating Art and his wife, and Vladek was all around kind of a jerk. Making racist remarks and using his survival of the holocaust to get pity and even discounts on groceries.

But even through all of this, Art was able to push through and pursue. He was able to talk about his feelings and put his emotions into something productive. Like in this case, a book!

My point with all of this is it's ok to not like the person you're grieving. It's ok to still be mad at them, and it's even ok to want to yell at them. That's all a part of grief. And as I'm sure you've been told, grief looks different for everyone.

If you're still mad at the person you're grieving, I encourage you to have that conversation with them. Write a letter, make a song, heck, talk to them like they're still there. But whatever you do, don't let that anger fester, because it will come back to bite you. Every, single, time.

by Sydney, age 16

Why we're lovin' it: "Five Feet Apart" (Amazon Prime) is an incredible story about a teenage girl with cystic fibrosis, a life threatening condition which you can’t interact with anyone else who has the same condition. She is a rule-following girl who has planned out her life around her condition, but then she meets a boy who also has cystic fibrosis, who begins to push her out of her comfort zone. 

He shows her the beauty of living life to the fullest and not always caring what others will say. He believes in living everyday like it’s his last! As they begin to fall in love, they realize how hard it will be as they can’t be within five feet of each other. 

I think this movie represents the same message learned through the process of grieving. You must live life to its fullest because you never know what will happen next! It is so easy to be separated from those you love so don’t wait to tell them you love them!

This movie represents how I feel about my grief because I know what it’s like to regret not spending those last moments with the person you lost! I believe that grief can be interpreted in so many different ways and I think this movie is an incredible way to express your emotions while relating to the characters struggles of constantly losing people they love.

by Leila, age 17

Why we're lovin' it: This week I'm loving the song "Praying" by Ke$ha. She wrote this song about healing, forgiveness, and finding strength after trauma, and this song perfectly embodies grief. My favorite part is…

“You brought the flames and you put me through hell
I had to learn how to fight for myself
And we both know all the truth I could tell
I'll just say this: I wish you farewell.”

When I first played this song, I thought about my grief journey and what my life was like after my mom had died. It was a dark time for me and my family but we made it out. In the end, I am stronger than I was before. What happened to me wasn't a good thing, and nothing I would wish upon others, but I can't reverse it no matter how hard I try.

After my mom died, I had to mature and have my own voice in everything; it has made me a strong, confident girl. I had to stick up for myself.

After such a hard time, I can look back and be proud of myself that I came out stronger than ever. Life can kick you down but what matters most is how you get up.

Why we’re lovin’ it: The mission of Get Griefy Magazine is to go beyond conventional storylines surrounding grief. Yes, obviously there is deep sorrow when it comes to our grief but this magazine also celebrates that we can choose to embrace our strength and live fully with grief!

It was founded by Kera Sanchez, a high school Dean of Students in Chicago. The inspiration for it: In June 2022, Kera’s mom died unexpectedly while vacationing in Italy, just days after the birth of Kera’s youngest child. 

Kera found herself navigating grief and postpartum “as a two-for-one special.” The more Kera thought about her situation, the more she wanted to put something into the world that would help other grievers.

Enter Get Griefy Magazine, which offers authentic stories, expert insights, and practical resources that empower readers to navigate their grief journey with resilience and purpose. We love it!