Episode
Ep 28: When Sickness Comes: Children navigating hard times
- Podcast
- Journey of the Art
- Published
- Jul 16, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 3048
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
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 _____________________ Guest’s links Buy A Summer Without Anna: https://www.kidscanpress.com/product/a-summer-without-anna/ Follow Kate…