What does it mean to lose your anchor people? In a short period of time, Renée Watson experienced the death of her mother, her mentor Nikki Giovanni, and her childhood friend, Charnetta. Renée shares how these experiences influenced her latest novel for young readers, All the Blues in the Sky, which follows 13-year-old Sage as she navigates grief after the death of her best friend.

Renée Watson is a #1 New York Times bestselling author whose recent book All the Blues in the Sky explores grief through the eyes of a young person. Her young adult novel, Piecing Me Together, received a Coretta Scott King Award and Newbery Honor. Her children's picture books and novels for teens have received several awards and international recognition. Many of her books are inspired by her experiences growing up as a Black girl in the Pacific Northwest.

We Discuss

• Experiencing multiple significant losses in a short period of time 

• The impact of losing "anchor people" in one's life 

• How Renée's mentor and friend, Nikki Giovanni, supported her as she grieved for her mother 

• The spectrum of emotions that come with grief 

• Why it’s important to acknowledge grief rather than avoid it 

• What Renée learned about grief from writing her main character, Sage.  

• The comparison of sudden loss versus anticipated loss 

• Finding tangible reminders of love after someone dies 

Connect with Renée Watson 

Website: RenéeWatson.net 

About Dougy Center 

Grief Out Loud is a production of Dougy Center, the National Grief Center for Children and Families in Portland, Oregon. For more resources, visit dougy.org or email [email protected].