Tag: Holodomor

Swing, fluttering paper, memories

I just received the most beautiful package of letters and cards from students and staff at JL Simpson MS (Virginia) in response to 6 virtual visits over two days that we did together a few weeks ago. Jeannine and I had corresponded about this for about a year and I was very impressed by the students and their in-depth questions on a wide variety of my books, and about history, and about the current war in Ukraine. The letters were tied in a blue satin ribbon, and the cards are amazing. Individual student artists created cards based on scenes from books. The artwork below is inspired by Stolen Girl, about Nadia’s joy at having a tree with a swing, now that she’s safe and living with people who love and care for her.

This is from Making Bombs for Hitler, when Lida is in the Displaced Persons’ camp. She’s checking the hundreds of bits of fluttering paper that have been attached to one of the few stone walls still standing. Each paper was a note with a person’s details on it, as they were trying to connect with loved ones who survived. I think of the war going on now in Ukraine when I look at this artwork, and think of all the people trying to find their loved ones.
This is from Stolen Girl. It’s Nadia’s confused memories because of the Nazi brainwashing she endured, making her forget her true family. It breaks my heart seeing this picture because there are kids right now kidnapped by Russia, in the midst of having their memories washed.
Here are all of them.

J. L. Simpson Middle School — virtual sessions

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with 300 students in 7th grade at J.L. Simpson in Leesburg Virginia over the course of 6 virtual sessions. Jeannine, their media specialist extraordinaire cobbled together grants from the Nora Roberts Foundation and HREC ED to make this happen and also to purchase copies of Winterkill for the students. The planning had been in the works since April of 2023! Students asked great questions, and look at the notes they took!

St. Marguerite d’Youville visit

This is me with librarian Lisa Sousa at St. Marguerite in Oakville. Had a GREAT visit today with her students!!! Ms Sousa is in the midst of reading Winterkill to the students and so the questions were about disinformation, history that’s hidden, the bullying by dictators and more. Since there are Ukrainians at this school, I also donated a Ukrainian editions each of Stolen Girl and Making Bombs for Hitler.

My fave quote from my fave media specialist!

Tiffanie from Roberts Elementary always lifts me up. After our author visit last week she emailed this feedback:

WOW! WOW! WOW!

You have a magical way of engaging our students sparking curiosity that lasts way beyond your visit! You answered their questions with such grace, care, and honesty. We loved it!

Roberts Elementary author visit

I had a wonderful visit with Roberts Elementary in Gwinnett County, Georgia last week. I’ve been virtually visiting students at this school for a number of years and have such respect for their media specialist, Tiffanie, who has an infectiously positive and generous perspective on life. I also love how her students come up with the BEST questions. There were about 9 classes participating in the session and each one had 3 questions. My favorite question from yesterday was, if you could tell your younger self something, what would it be? My answer: that the people who told me I was a slow learner were wrong. I was a different learner, and that would ultimately be a gift.

Have to say, meeting with students is one of the most wonderful aspects of being a writer.

Tiffanie made my day when she emailed this after the session: WOW! WOW! WOW!

You have a magical way of engaging our students sparking curiosity that lasts way beyond your visit! You answered their questions with such grace, care, and honesty. We loved it!

My one and only Canadian school during WRAD

Eleven of my twelve World-Read-Aloud-Day donated virtual visits were claimed by American schools, but one I gave to Melita School in Manitoba, and it came about when two grade 8 students, Chaz and Zander, were doing a project on one of my books and asked to meet with me virtually. Normally, I would have had to say no, but World Read Aloud Day was coming up, so I suggested we meet on that day, with their whole class. It was a wonderful visit with Ms Anderson and her students! Here are some pics.