Category: News stories

DSBN Silver Birch Red Maple celebration

On April 26th I had the honour of participatin the the District School Board of Niagara Forest of Reading celebration. There were nearly 1500 kids participating. It was a blast! Check out this video:

It was also great to catch up with writer friends and fellow nominees.

Silver Birch nominee Natalie Hyde, me, and fellow Red Maple nominee Jean Mills
A panel discussion with Jean Mills, Kristen Ciccarelli, Kathy Lowinger and myself. Sonja Upton moderated.
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Visiting students in Louisville KY

Bloom Elementary students waiting in line

I was picked up in the wee hours of Easter Sunday morning to begin my trip to Louisville Kentucky on behalf of Scholastic Book Fairs and the publication of Stolen Girl. It was a quick three day trip but in that time I met with enthusiastic students and staff at 6 schools!

My first stop was Buckner Elementary:

  • These 4 patient students were the last in a long line-up, waiting for an autograph.
  • Along the way to the library I was greeted with these creative signs!

Scholastic Book Fairs Field Rep Carol Cook and Field Manager Cindy Herman then took me out for lunch, and since this was my first time in Kentucky, I had to try a Hot Brown, which was invented in Louisville. Yum! It was huge! I couldn’t eat it all but it was delicious!

A Hot Brown from Lou Lou Food & Drink: French bread on the bottom, thin sliced turkey, Mornay cheese sauce, garnished with tomato and bacon!

Next school was Holy Trinity, where I was greeted with a large bomb-festooned banner and many enthusiastic students.

I asked those who had questions to come up to the front to ask them. Their questions were displayed on the screen so all of the students could see.

On Tuesday, we visited Bloom Elementary. I was very impressed with the stately architecture of the building itself and loved the bright and airy renovations, in particular the broken glass mosaic tiles in the front foyer.

It was a large and attentive audience at Bloom and the questions were perceptive.

I LOVE this picture! Thank you, Bloom students for your patience and enthusiasm!

These five students were at the very last of the line-up, so I thought it was fitting to get a pic. Thank you for your patience!!
On Tuesday afternoon, I spoke with 100 grade 4 students at Lowe Elementary.

I was packed and checked out when Cindy took me to our first school on Wednesday, Mount Washington. A beautiful banner decorated the entrance!

There were very many avid readers and enthusiastic book purchasers at the school. The two students sitting with me organized the books — you can see sets stacked on the shelves waiting to be signed. Classes came in one at a time. There were so many books to sign and students to say hello to that I opted to skip lunch so I could greet everyone personally. Thank you, Mount Washington students and educators for your reading enthusiasm!

The final school on the trip was the Christian Academy. It was a good thing Carol and I didn’t stop for lunch because there were FOUR car accidents on the road between Mount Washington and Christian Academy! As it was, we got to the school in plenty of time. Students were enthusiastic and asked great questions!

Thank you, Cindy and Carol for taking such good care of me! It was an awesome adventure!!

Three Ukrainian schools plus St. Jerome School

Ivan Franko Ukrainian Saturday School

 

 

Halyna at St. Josephat, waiting for the students to assemble.

On Wednesday, I visited St. Josephat Ukrainian School in Toronto in the afternoon, and St. Jerome School in Mississauga in the morning. It was great to visit both of these schools again — like visiting an old friend! On Saturday, I visited Ridna Shkola in Oakville, and then Ivan Franko Ukrainian School in Mississauga and was honoured by the enthusiastic reception!

St. Jerome School

Don’t Tell the Nazis

The year is 1941. Krystia lives in a small Ukrainian village under the cruel — sometimes violent — occupation of the Soviets. So when the Nazis march into town to liberate them, many of Krystia’s neighbors welcome the troops with celebrations, hoping for a better life.

But conditions don’t improve as expected. Krystia’s friend Dolik and the other Jewish people in town warn that their new occupiers may only bring darker days.

The worst begins to happen when the Nazis blame the Jews for murders they didn’t commit. As the Nazis force Jews into a ghetto, Krystia does what she can to help Dolik and his family. But what they really need is a place to hide. Faced with unimaginable tyranny and cruelty, will Krystia risk everything to protect her friends and neighbors?

Published in Canada as Don’t Tell the Enemy.

Here’s the book trailer:



Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch (author of Making Bombs for Hitler) crafts a story of ultimate compassion and sacrifice based on true events during WWII