Dancing at the Pity Party - Paperback

by Tyler Feder (Author)

Part poignant memoir and part "cathartic and uplifting" (Kirkus Reviews) reflection on a motherless life, this graphic novel is extraordinarily comforting and engaging.

"Offers a wealth of perspective about coping with grief."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Equal parts celebration, reflection, and mourning, this graphic memoir touches on the unpredictable path of grief."--School Library Journal, starred review

Tyler Feder had just white-knuckled her way through her first year of college when her super cool mom was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. Now, with a decade of grief and nervous laughter under her belt, Tyler shares the story of that gut-wrenching, heart-pounding, extremely awkward time in her life--from her mom's first oncology appointment to her funeral and shiva week through the beginning of facing reality as a motherless daughter. She shares the sting of loss that never goes away, the uncomfortable post-death firsts, and the deep-down, hard-to-talk-about feelings of the grieving process--but also the ways a premature death of a loved one can eventually enrich your life.

Dancing at the Pity Party is a frank and refreshingly funny look at what it's like to grieve--for anyone struggling with loss who just wants someone to get it.

Author Biography

Tyler Feder is a Chicago-based artist whose work explores Big Feelings, feminism, and pop culture. She graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Radio/TV/Film and a fancy certificate in Creative Writing for the Media. After college, she studied comedy writing at The Second City Training Center and began posting drawings online, both of which were equal parts thrilling and terrifying. Since then, Tyler has illustrated Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin's Unladylike, Leah Henderson's Together We March, and many angsty self-portraits. Tyler wrote and illustrated the acclaimed picture book Bodies Are Cool, and she continues to sell prints and the occasional portrait at her long-running Etsy shop, Roaring Softly. Tyler's favorite color is pink (obviously).