There are things I wish I could go back and tell my younger self. This book is a message for little me and for everyone and anyone because we all have our own set of things we carry through life. Life can feel daunting and we all experience things that are embarrassing and hard. Hiding those things away feels like the right thing to do, but learning to open up about those things will help you carry them in new ways. My hope is that this book helps anyone feel less alone and less ashamed about who they are. We are all just humans trying our best.
The Things We Carry
This book is a 3rd grade reading level, but it is for all ages to enjoy. Everyone can find something to relate to in this book!
Price: $18.99
Size 10.125 x 8.25
Print length: 40 pages
Hello! I’m Jamie.
I am the author and illustrator of The Things We Carry.
So glad you are stopping by! This book is so special to me and I hope it is to you too!
Why did I write this book? I dedicated this book to my younger self because it really is something I wish I could have known much earlier. I had plenty of “things” I was shoving into my hidden pocket that seemed manageable and like I was going to be able to pretend like I was “perfect” forever. But then I got deep into an eating disorder. I no longer could pretend like I wasn’t struggling because it became so obvious to everyone. People were not very kind to me when I was really struggling. I don’t know if there are words to describe how ashamed I was of myself. I was so stuck…until I started talking to safe people about my experiences. Slowly. Soooo slowly. I would share a small detail of something I had done that made me “a monster.” To my complete surprise, there were people that could relate?! They had actually done the exact same thing?! A little spark of hope appeared for me. Maybe I wasn’t actually alone or disgusting. As I learned and grew, I realized just how similar all humans are. We struggle with different things, but we all struggle. And chances are, there is someone who struggles with the exact same thing you do. So yes, this book is for younger me, but also for anyone else who is a bit scared and stuck. You really are not alone. There are people that can relate to you.
Contact me. Collaborate with me. Be my friend :)
Do you know why I wanted to publish under the name Canary Books? Starting in the late 1890’s, miners brought canaries with them into coal mines to detect dangerous invisible gases like carbon monoxide before the affected humans. Because canaries have a more sensitive respiratory system, they would show signs of distress or die, providing an early warning to miners to evacuate or put on masks before they suffered the same fate. In her book Love Warrior, Glennen Doyle talks about how maybe she’s a canary. She is little and awkward, but feels like she has a message to share. I related to that because I am introverted and feel awkward all the time, but I am going to try to chirp out my little message.
