The Hair Tie / The Swimmer's Clip Two Loneliness Stories

Zoe is reluctant to reach out to other kids her age at horseback riding lessons. And Leo can't be lonely because he's online with his friends all day, right? What does it mean to be lonely when there are people all around you? Each character struggles until a mysterious cat and a cryptic clue leads them to a healthy coping mechanism. Created in collaboration with Mayo Clinic Pediatric psychologist Dr. Abigail Matthews, the Manga Medicine series offers manga lovers a model for dealing with an increasingly common problem--loneliness. With two compelling stories in one flip book (read one story and flip the book over to read another!), the relatable stories celebrate the power of trusted techniques to cope with the challenges of life. 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.

About the author

Jason M. Burns has had a successful career in the comic book industry as a content creator, writer, and editor. In addition, his resume includes two original novels and multiple film and television projects. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, two children, and a trio of rescue dogs. Ash Stryker is a cartoonist and caricature artist based out of Minneapolis. When she isn't drawing, she's doting on her two cats and reading manga. Dr. Abigail Matthews, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and the Program Director of the Pediatric Mood Program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She specializes in evidence-based care for children and adolescents with depression and their families. She is also an expert in pediatric eating disorders treatment and research.

Product details

• Authors: Berne Emma Carlson, Jason Burns
• Assisted by: Ash Stryker (Illustration)
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Content: Book
• Product form: Paperback / Softback
• Publication date: 19.02.2026
• Subject: Children's and young people's books
• EAN: 9798887703282
• ISBN: 979-8-88770-328-2
• Pages: 48
• Age Recommendation: ages 9 to 12
• Illustrations: 2-c Illustrations throughout
• Dimensions (packing): 12.7 x 19 cm
• Series: Manga Medicine
• Subjects: JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels / Manga; General fiction (Children's / Teenage); Comic strip fiction / graphic novels (Children's / Teenage); JUVENILE FICTION / Health & Daily Living / Mental Health; Manga and East Asian style / tradition comic books