A Summer without Anna

by Kate Jenks Landry, Risa Hugo (illustrator)

Junie misses her sister – and their summers together before Anna got sick.

When Junie’s mum and dad leave her with Nan and Pop for the summer, they promise they’ll be back to get her ”the minute Anna’s well enough.“ Then they hand her Anna’s camera with a note that reads, ”In case you find Edmund.“ Over the course of the long summer, Junie spends her days floating in the lake, fishing with Pop and taking lots of pictures – though none of Edmund, the elusive giant turtle. Edmund will have to wait, just like Junie’s waiting, until Junie finally gets to see her sister again.

A heartfelt tribute to the love between siblings, this poignant exploration of a child’s inner world during uncertain times is perfect for any young person dealing with an ill family member or any type of uncertainty.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Summer, Canada

32 pages, Hardcover

Published June 3, 2025

Reviews

[Ankit Saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Summer Without Anna by Kate Jenks Landry is a beautifully written, heart-wrenching novel that delves into the complexities of grief, love and healing. The story follows the young girl Junie, who is forced to confront deep emotional loss during a transformative summer, as her elder sister Anna was sick and could accompany her. Author's prose is evocative, capturing both the delicate and intense emotions of her characters with remarkable sensitivity. While the pacing can feel slow at times, the rich character development and the book's poignant theme make it a compelling read. Fans of introspective fiction will appreciate the emotional depth and the quiet power of the narrative. A true empathetic tribute to the love and bonding of siblings.

For me, it is a solid 4.5 stars.

My NetGalley review

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normally, older sister Anna accompanies Junie when they go to visit their grandparents, Nan and Pop. But not this year, as Anna is in the hospital. Instead of playing with Anna, Junie spends the summer taking photographs and looking for an elusive ancient turtle named Edmund. And feeling anguished with worry over Anna’s illness.

What a wonderful picture book, dealing with a subject simply too big to easily put into words! Children face death, illness and other sorrows that hit those around them, and this book sends the message that they’re never alone. In both senses, as others too worry about their families, and as children want reassurance than others care about them, no matter what.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Kids Can Press in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna Schlueter · Rating 5 out of 5]

While scrolling through the thousands of books on NetGalley, I came across this wonderful gem of a children’s book. I absolutely had to request the moment I saw it because of course the title has my name in it!

Junie gets shipped off to her grandparents house while her parents spend time with Anna in the hospital. We are told that Anna is very sick, but the family is hoping for a full recovery (major tear jerking moment). Junie gets bequeathed Anna’s sacred camera to find Edmond, who we later find out is a tortoise. The book weaves emotion with light hearted moments with her grandparents and the journey to explore the outdoors and just maybe for Junie to be a kid who can enjoy the summer.

Thank you NetGalley for this book and allowing me to enjoy this story. Special shout out to the Illustrator of this book, it was truly gorgeous and whimsical. I will definitely be buying when it comes out and hope to share with the children in my family.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer at the lake with Nan and Pop was something that Junie always looked forward to. But this summer, it would be without her sister Anna. This touching picture book follows a young girl who must spend the summer with her grandparents while her sister is in the hospital. The book shows how the grandparents step up to be her loving support while Mom and Dad need to be spending time with Anna. She naturally misses her sister, but also her parents. In this story, Anna has loaned her camera to her sister. This plot devise of Junie taking nature pictures throughout her stay acts as narrative that shows the passage of time and also shows kids that they can find ways to keep busy and to cope while a family member is ill. I loved the subtle earth tone and pastel illustrations that capture the calm summertime lakeside atmosphere. This touching story is perfect for any child with a sick family member.

[Laurie • The Baking Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS A beautiful and poignant story about sibling love, summer, and making memories despite what life throws at you.

This picture book, beautifully illustrated by Risa Hugo, compassionately explores big emotions with a tender hand as young readers witness how Junie deals with a summer at her grandparents' place without her big sister Anna who is sick. Anna gives her little sister her treasured camera so Junie can share her summer memories when they are reunited.

With its empathetic tone, Jenks Landry explores the unique connection between siblings with a story that is full of love and hope and is a great way to give reassurances to younger children about life's uncertainties and worry when a loved one is sick.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this picturebook in exchange for my honest review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Summer Without Anna is such a wonderful picture book. The story follows Junie, a young girl who is spending the summer with her grandparents while her older sister is in the hospital. It deals with her big feelings about missing her older sister, worrying about what will happen to her, and feeling her absence in the place they usually go to together. Junie has her sister's camera with her for company and finds solace in the art of photography and in the nature around their grandparents' home. It's an incredibly sweet and poignant story that will resonate for many kids, whether they've missed family in the hospital or found solace in art or nature when struggling. The art is also absolutely gorgeous, with suitably delicate pastel shades throughout that amplify the feeling of nature. Highly recommended!

[RatGrrrl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

This is a breathtakingly beautiful children's book that follows a young girl over a summer she stays with her grandparents, while her parents and sister are away due to the sister's serious illness and treatment.

The artwork is simply gorgeous and the writing is charming and absolutely wrecked my emotions in just how wistful and wondrous it is.

This would be an incredibly comforting and cathartic book for many kids.

I loved it!

[Bookmeaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

C'était mimi et touchant :(

-- here's my review :

3,75/5

A summer without Anna

"Before they go, they hand me a box. Inside is Anna's camera, the one she never lets me touch."

Mom and Dad leave Junie with Nan and Pop for the summer. She has to stay at their house, but this time it's without her sister Anna...

"P.S. This is just a loan !
P.P.S So you'd better not break it !"

This is kinda of as heartwarming as heartbreaking (a little). The sisters' relationship is really adorable, it's actually really nice to witness. Junie and Anna are so sweet towards eachother, weither they are in eachother's presence or not.

The illustrations by Risa Hugo have that quite nostalgic style. I think it gives the story and the book some familiarity and gentleness. It welcomes us, readers. It's warm like a blanket, as if it's reassuring us as long as Junie.

"A luna moth lands on the window screen. She keeps me company until I fall asleep."

Junie tries to keep herself busy as she waits for her sister comeback. She feels lonely and thinks really often about Anna. She wishes Anna was there with her. She keeps on some mission and traditions she used to have with her sister in the meantime. Take pictures, captures moments, using Anna's precious camera.

"A loon calls low and lonely accross the water.
I wish I could photograph the sound and take it home to Anna."

It's a nice book for children, with an important subject. Familiarizing them about a thing that could happen in life. With one way of how to handle it.
It's about sisterhood, having a sibling who's sick or unwell. About sisterly love, how to keep them in your thoughts and heart. Wait, hope, do things for the other even if they're not there physically with you.

#ASummerwithoutAnna #Netgalley

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A carefully poised piece, as a girl spends the summer with her grandparents in their lakeside home. That's not unusual – but what is not normal for her is that her sister is not there. No, she was too ill too travel. The stay will end when Anna gets to come out of hospital, but when will that be? And might it never actually happen?

This raises questions about separation, and potential loss of siblings – and does so in quietly entertaining fashion, meaning it most certainly can be shelved alongside those useful books that cover the confirmed loss of loved ones. We're never told if the illness getting in the way of the girls' friendship is cancer or not, but I think it's fairly likely. And so while Anna goes up and down in health, our lead is forced to record her summer on the other girl's film camera, hopefully getting her snaps developed (somehow) in time for them to be reunited. It's the calmness of this distraction – the nature notes and still images of the still lake – that make this come across as really thoughtful and poised, and as a result I think this will be welcomed by many a person in the position to need it for professional purposes. Four and a half stars.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an emotional, and touching, story that I was happy to see be told. I am a disabled adult who grew up a child, and I know that the times I spent in the hospital dealing with different issues could be as difficult for my siblings to experience as for me - just in different ways. Seeing the story of Junie, who is going through such a difficult time being without the sister(Anna) that she dearly misses, was sad, but also really inspiring. It was a story that gave a bit of hope not just in the way that Junie spent her summer, but in the very touching conclusion. The artist did a great job at complimenting the story, the colors used and manner of painting gave it such a wistful feel that accompanied the sense of hope Junie holds onto in the story. I would definitely recommend this book to friends of mine who have children especially those who have siblings of children that deal with disabilities and illnesses as sometimes they're forgotten in the chaos, and weight, of everything.

[Alison McGauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of young Junie who stays with her grandparents at their country home one summer when her sister is ill. A Summer Without Anna represents families who are navigating difficult experiences such as illness, injuries or separation. Junie’s voice and behaviours perfectly capture the many feelings that a child could experience in this situation. The soft colors in Risa Hugo’s illustrations along with the beautiful drawings of the natural world add to the poignancy of the story. This picture book makes a perfect read for families, nature-lovers, and young photographers.

[Tanya Kyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made my heart hurt in the best possible way. While her sister is in the hospital for treatment, the girl in this book stays with Pop and Nan — taking her sister's camera along. There are vivid images throughout the book: getting wrapped in a towel "warm from the sun," fishing for minnows with Pop, and hunting for wild blueberries. The lyrical text and the watery, whimsical illustrations capture the wild wonder of the natural world around her, but also the sorrowful limbo of waiting for a family member to hopefully recover. Plus, an unexpectedly perfect ending.

[Jennifer Maruno · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming story of being away from a sister while she recovers from an illness. Her grandparents try many ways to distract her from her sad thoughts and fears. Using the camera her older sister has lent her while she is in hospital, Anna records her days all the while waiting, waiting, waiting for her sister to come home. There are few behind the scenes stories of the impact of illness on a sibling and this one is a beautiful description of true emotions with a happy heartfelt ending. Well done.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is sad but hopeful. Our main character is sent to spend the summer with her grandparents. We know that Anna is sick, which is why Anna is not there. This is about how you spend time waiting and wondering. This book does have a happy ending where Anna comes back. And I do think that’s lovely and it’s a great way to talk about issues when a sibling is sick. Not a good one if a sibling dies, but a good one to read when there is an illness in the family.

[Kayli Mckay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Junie spends the summer with her Nan and Pop while her parents stay with her older sister Anna, who is sick in the hospital. Just before her parents leave, they hand her a box with Anna's camera. Junie spends the summer taking photos of various activities and scenery she sees during her trip while she waits to see her sister again.

This is a story to help any young person who is going through uncertain times with an ill family member.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

[Paola Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm and heartfelt story about the bond between two sisters separated by illness. One spends the summer with their grandparents, patiently waiting for Anna to recover. This beautiful tale touches on themes of coping with the absence of loved ones, navigating uncertain times, and the deep connection that unites siblings. Hugo’s soft, pastel-toned illustrations perfectly complement both the narrative and the protagonist’s inner world. A highly recommended read!

[Amanda Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is vague about what is happening to Anna but June is left with Nan and Pop and Anna’s camera while Anna has some sort of medical procedure. June takes nature pictures and explores nature alone while she misses her sister. It’s a sweet story but lacks the intensity that comes with waiting for someone to recover from major problems. I wish we knew more about what happens to Anna. Just a few sentences could do it.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of missing a sister who is in hospital and cannot come on vacation. Junie Bean stays at the home of her grandparents while her sister gets well. She takes photos with a camera of what the sister is missing and hopes Anna will come join her soon. The ending is sweet and the sisters reuniting and sharing photos and the camera.

[Analene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A special story between two sisters who maintain their special connection through a difficult time when one of them is sick. The story is full of emotion, and the illustrations are lovely and nostalgic – old school camera, corded coil phones and overalls. The quest for the perfect photograph of Edmund keeps the girls connected.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happen to know the author of this book and got it signed at her launch party! “A Summer Without Anna” is such an emotional, detailed story. I think it is a great children’s book, and it is so cool I get to know an author as talented as Kate. The illustrations are nice too! Definitely worth reading. 😋

[Deborah Kerbel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a poignant, tender, and moving account of a young girl passing a long and 'wibbly-wobbly' summer with her grandparents while waiting for her older sister to recover. Beautifully written and illustrated...this is a very special picture book. Highly recommended.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tender, touching story about the impact of illness on a younger sibling. Gorgeously illustrated and told through the young protagonist’s connection with the natural world as she waits for her sister to heal and return to her.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Summer Without Anna illuminates life's fleeting joys and mysteries, showing us how to keep going despite grief and uncertainty. Evocative illustrations deepen the delicate revelations and yearning of the story. Love this book!

[Tamla Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Summer Without Anna tells the tough story of sibling separation due to illness with gentleness and grace. Beautifully written, it captures both heartache and hope in a way that resonates with readers young, old, and in between. It is truly a story to be cherished.

[Tasnim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short sweet story about siblings being apart from each other and learning to cope with it. A relatable and realistic story for the little ones.

[Natalie (Natflix&Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful and poignant picture book about a girl spending the summer with her grandparents while her parents are at home with her sick sister.

[Lana Button · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written!

[Mary-Esther Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gentle, sensitive, and healing.

[Cynthia Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This heartfelt story brings readers a sense of calm and peace.

[Casey Lyall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wistful and atmospheric story of a child navigating a stressful situation. Beautifully told with gorgeous, textured illustrations.