AUTHOR BIO
Mindy Nichols Wendell writes historical fiction for young readers. Before beginning her writing career, Mindy taught writing and literature to college freshmen and future teachers. Mindy is a strong advocate for children and believes everything teachers do in the classroom should help kids become joyful lifelong readers and writers. In 2019, Mindy received the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. She lives in western New York with her husband, Steve, a retired elementary school teacher. LIGHT AND AIR is Mindy’s debut novel.
SYNOPSIS of LIGHT AND AIR
It’s 1935, and tuberculosis is ravaging the nation. Everyone is afraid of this deadly respiratory illness. When Halle and her mother fall ill, they are sent to the J. N. Adam Tuberculosis Hospital, far from home, far from family, far from the world. Tucked away in the woods of upstate New York, the hospital is a closed and quiet place. But it is not, as Halle learns, a prison. Free from troubles at home and troubles at school, she slowly discovers joy, friendship, and a sense of belonging in this world where people are united by what they have in common, rather than separated by their differences. But when Mama suffers a lung hemorrhage, Halle’s entire future is thrown into question. LIGHT AND AIR deals tenderly and insightfully with isolation, quarantine, found family, and illness. Set in the fully realized world of a 1930s sanatorium, it offers a tender glimpse into a historical epidemic that has become more relatable than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As Halle vows to do whatever it takes to save Mama, a profound message of strength, hope, and healing emerges.
LIGHT AND AIR, published by Holiday House (2024), is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.
