Tag: WWII

Tuesday: first up: Lynne Valley ES!

The last time I did a book tour for CCBC’s Canadian Children’s Book Week was way back in 2014 when I toured Quebec. Before that, I toured Alberta in 2008 and Manitoba in 2002. It’s always a great opportunity to interact with students and educators that I’d never otherwise get to meet. I was at the school about thirty minutes early — I hate being late!

Teacher Librarian Kate Montgomerie greeted me with an enthusiastic smile and told me all about her fundraising efforts to increase her book buying powers. As she talked, she rearranged the library for my presentation, chatted with students, set up my power point. First up were grades 6&7 students, and the next were grades 5&6. I talked about why I write what I write, and my own struggles as a student. They were full of interesting questions and comments.

St. Sophia Saturday School

Attended a fantastic launch and presentation yesterday in Woodstock Ontario for Oleksa Drachewych’s new book, Replaying the Second World War, which documents the parallels between Soviet myths, national narrative and atrocities in WWII and what the Russians are doing now in Ukraine. The audience was so engaged that questions could have gone on for the rest of the day.

People had driven in from Hamilton and London to hear Oleksa’s talk, and also to participate in a display of Ukrainian culture. Students from St. Sophia Ukrainian Saturday school performed a dance. A number of the students had read my books and had questions, so after everything was over and people were packing up, we grabbed some chairs and the kids asked questions. I think every question began with, “I have a question, no, actually, I have two …” I was very impressed by these young people!

Roberts ES students always have such good questions!

Today was the 6th time media specialist extraordinaire Tiffanie Lifsey invited me to speak with her fifth grade students in Suwanee Georgia!

There were a lot of budding writers in the audience and many questions focused on that. For example, what does my editing process look like before I send a manuscript to the publisher? How many times in all does a manuscript for a novel go through editing? I think they were shocked by the answer.

There were also questions about the real people behind various characters, but this was the first time I was asked about how I researched for the character of Officer Schmidt, who made appearances in both Making Bombs and The War Below.

This is one of the classes at Roberts ES. I think there were 6 in all.
I love this shot with me and Tiffanie!

Riverside Elementary and why we read

Thank you, Kristin and Beth for the opportunity to speak with 5th grade Riverside Elementary students last Friday. This new crop of 5th grade students were as inquisitive, enthusiastic and respectful as always. I loved the opportunity to talk about how I wrote Making Bombs for Hitler and why I write on such serious topics for a young audience.

Students say thank you

It was such a pleasure to speak with 7th grade students at JL Simpson Middle School this May. This is the second year in a row that I’ve virtually visited with all 11 classes. Students are well-prepared and avid readers and I really admire their teachers because they know how to combo a whole lot of learning for maximum effect. I got this package in the mail — thank you notes from the kids, and also from Jennifer, media specialist extraordinaire. But these aren’t just any thank-you notes. Students created thank you notes for me to use as thank you notes! The outside of each note card has student-created art based on a scene from one of my books. On the back of the cards is the student’s name and the name of the book that inspired their art. So a learning opportunity that combines art, literature, history, communications and courtesy! Wow!

St. Sophia youth

It was such an honor to speak with the youth group at St. Sophia Religious Assn USA of Ukrainian Catholics this evening. Thank you, Iryna Ivankovych for the invitation. Students had read Making Bombs for Hitler and we talked about why I write what I write, Ukraine’s traumas over the last century and the intergenerational impact of war. A meaningful and heartfelt conversation.

Roberts ES 5th grade students

It was such a pleasure to speak with 5th grade students from Roberts Elementary in Suwanee GA on Good Friday morning. Virtually visiting Roberts has become something of an annual tradition! Here are pics from one of the participating classes. Students asked thoughtful questions and made good connections between my WWII novels and Under Attack: Kidnapped from Ukraine, set during Putin’s current war on Ukraine. 

Hickson Central Public School visit

It was nice to visit with grade 7 and 8 students at Hickson Central today! I had passed right by the school in January on my way to Stratford Christian. On that day it was minus 25C. Today it was a balmy 6.5C, so I didn’t bother with a coat (or socks!)

Loved the good questions and the one-on-one with students at the end. Thank you, Mrs. Van Wyk, for the invite.

UCC London book launch

Thank you so much, Olha Nowosad and all of the organizers for such a wonderful event last night. Coming back to the London Ukrainian Centre felt like coming home because I spent many a Saturday night here, at zabavas. It was a great way to get more use out of old bridesmaids’ gowns.

Here are some pics of the evening.

Two of my very accomplished author buddies also came out. Judy Ann Sadler is on the left, and Barbara Haworth-Attard on the right.