In May 2018, I had a lovely tour with Island Readers & Writers, which serves schools on Maine islands and in Washington County. At tiny Charlotte Elementary School, the class of 6th-8th graders responded to In the Shadow of the Sun with creative projects, including a video (still to come, I’m told). I was delighted by this wonderful diorama depicting the moment that Mia and Simon attempt to cross the border, complete with the hole in the fence and the Great Wall in the background:

At Deer Isle Stonington, a middle school English teacher dove into deep waters of content and theme with her students, in relation to a unit of study in which they were examining courage, resilience, and perseverance:

  • Can you tell us more about the famine in the 1990s?

  • Have you ever tasted snake meat?

  • Could you still feel the tension between North and South Korea when you were growing up?

  • What was your motivation to write the book?

  • Some of the plot points seem like “little miracles.” Do you think those points were possible?

  • What can you tell us about your experience with North Korea that touches on courage, resilience, and perseverance?

It was exciting to see scenes from the book recreated in concrete form, and to engage in discussion in response to student inquiry. I’m constantly amazed by what students can do when they’re invited to explore by a creative teacher!