AUTHOR SPEAKS WITH STUDENTS
By Jesse Mclean For The Observer
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Sarnia Observer, Canada
June 12 2008

A celebrated Canadian author spoke to a group of students at SCITS
recently about overcoming adversity and pursuing your dreams.

Marsha Skrypuch, a Brantford-based author who crafts award-winning
fiction about historic atrocities, spoke with the school’s book club
and two English classes.

"Her personal story was that she could not read, but kept it secret
from her teachers and classmates," said librarian Jan Turnbull who
organized the event.

Skrypuch’s illiteracy was eventually discovered after a standardized
test.

"So, she taught herself to read when she was in the Grade 4," said
Turnbull. "She showed the students that things don’t come easy,
but that you can’t give up."

Students were entranced by Skrypuch’s performance, Turnbull said,
which also focused on researching her works on the Armenian genocide
and Ukrainian famine during the early 1930s.

"You could hear a pin drop, (the students) were so intent on
listening," Turnbull said.

SCITS students’ book club, the Coffee Club, are currently reading
one of Skrypuch’s books. The author gave each student a personal
dedication in their own copies.

The same week, Skrypuch received a state award from Ukrainian President
Victor Yushchenko for her famine-inspired story, The Rings.