“I'm sorry, sir. I don't understand exactly. Maybe I'm not smart enough. I don't know what you mean when you say ‘the whole world’ or ‘generations before him.’ I thought there was only us. I thought there was only now.” “There's much more. There's all that goes beyond – all that is Elsewhere – and all that goes back, and back, and back. I received all of those, when I was selected. And here in this room, all alone, I re-experience them again and again. It's how wisdom comes. And how we shape our future.” - The Giver

Lois Lowry is a beloved American author. She has written more than 50 books throughout her career and has twice been awarded the Newbery Medals for “the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children."  She won for her books Number the Stars in 1990 and The Giver in 1994. Lois’ books vary in content and style yet deal with many of the same general themes including the importance of human connections. They tell stories about the effects of loss on a family and the role that we humans play in the lives of our fellow beings.

This unedited conversation was recorded on March 4, 2022 in Lois' home in Falmouth, Maine. Lois shares stories about her life as the daughter of a career military officer in the midst of World War II, the experience of losing her son at a young age, and the profound impact her stories have had on people from around the world. Grief as a place of deep connection, including in the classroom, is present in this episode.

An edited version of this conversation was originally published as the first episode of the first season, but is being shared now in its unedited form to kick off the second season of this podcast. To read how this conversation has grown in relevance for Rachael over the two years since it was recorded, you can find an essay published on the Along The Seam newsletter.

For more about Lois Lowry and to read the transcript, visit: www.alongtheseam.com/lois-lowry