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From an infectious disease perspective, the first half of the nineteenth century was a precursor to the Covid-19 crisis. Anderson witnessed her family being utterly ravaged and torn apart by tuberculosis. However, rather than becoming mired in the woes of a lethal disease and the Great Depression, her work beams with hope and focuses on living a life that is a testament to the notion of making lemonade out of lemons.
The events of one's life are uncontrollable, but Anderson endeavors to help children grapple with being separated from their parents for a multitude of reasons. Specifically, a central point of this work is the heartwarming letters Anderson's mother sends to her and her twin sister from her hospital bed. For seven years, the twins lived in "next-summer" mode as they grew up with grandparents in Fortune, Newfoundland—a panoramic fishing village. More than anything else, the narrative is a snapshot of the sisters' adventures ranging from bear encounters and secret dips in the stream to the sweet scents permeating their home on bread-baking day.
Though the letters can certainly be perceived as heartbreaking, there is an aura of resilience and beauty. The mother uses the letters as a teaching experience to nurture her daughters' senses through words and pictures. The letters become the tie that binds them together. When the inevitable reunion occurs, their relationship is seamless and awe-inspiring. Amid the Andersons' coming of age, audiences will get exposure to a personal interpretation of monumental moments in U.S. history, chiefly Pearl Harbor. Anderson delivers a refreshing narrative with an introspective tone that combines a fluid writing style with a compelling storyline that will undoubtedly resonate with all audiences.