Tag: scholastic

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!!

Making Bombs for Hitler (new)

USbombsLida thought she was safe. Her neighbors wearing the yellow star were all taken away, but Lida is not Jewish. She will be fine, won’t she?

But she cannot escape the horrors of World War II.

Lida’s parents are ripped away from her and she is separated from her beloved sister, Larissa. The Nazis take Lida to a brutal work camp, where she and other Ukrainian children are forced into backbreaking labor. Starving and terrified, Lida bonds with her fellow prisoners, but none of them know if they’ll live to see tomorrow.

When Lida and her friends are assigned to make bombs for the German army, Lida cannot stand the thought of helping the enemy. Then she has an idea. What if she sabotaged the bombs… and the Nazis? Can she do so without getting caught?

And if she’s freed, will she ever find her sister again?

This pulse-pounding novel of survival, courage, and hope shows us a lesser-known piece of history — and is sure to keep readers captivated until the last page.

Continue reading “Making Bombs for Hitler (new)”