In Episode 28, I’m joined by Kate Jenks Landry, author of A Summer Without Anna, to discuss the hardship children face when a family member is sick.
When we think about sickness, especially those requiring hospitalizations and long-term care, the focus is on the patient and rightfully so. But what happens to the children in the family, who often have to live with a relative or family friend? Is there any impact of this separation on their state of mind and worldview?
A Summer Without Anna revolves around Junie, a young girl who is placed in the care of her grandparents when her sister, Anna, is sick. Part memoir, the book is a glimpse into Kate’s own experiences as a child and offers a photographic contemplation of nature and family love.
Kate and I discuss the importance of allowing children to process feelings of anger and resentment during this time and the ways nature can offer a reprieve in the bleakest of circumstances.
Find out more about Kate at journeyoftheart.com.
Show highlights
00:00 – Introduction
2:13 – The inspiration behind the story
5:27 – Exploring emotional honesty in children’s literature
10:33 – The impact of illness on siblings
16:48 – Finding community in difficult times
21:13 – The importance of perspective in storytelling
24:27 – Navigating childhood conversations about illness
27:57 – Processing emotions in a digital age
33:08 – The impact of literature on children
38:04 – Personal reflections on writing
42:52 – balancing authenticity and privacy
44:10 – All the Basements on Blackberry Street
48:29 – The art of collaboration on writing
Listen on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/journey-of-the-art
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Guest’s links
Buy A Summer Without Anna: https://www.kidscanpress.com/product/a-summer-without-anna/
Follow Kate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katejenkslandry/
Follow Kate on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/katejenkslandry.bsky.social
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
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