Community Corner
Young Adult Author Visits Riverwood Literature Students
To prepare for Levy's visit,additional assignments included writing a literary analysis of the book as well as conducting group discussions.
From Riverwood Int'l Charter: Young adult author, Aaron Levy, visited Riverwood International Charter School 10th Grade Literature Honors students in late April. Earlier in the semester, the sophomores read his debut young adult novel, Blood Don’t Lie. The book’s main character, 13-year- old Larry Ratner, is short, Jewish, and unpopular. As the story develops, Ratner copes with tough situations such as bullying, abuse, and the death of friends.
To prepare for Levy’s visit, additional assignments included writing a literary analysis of the book as well as conducting group discussions. As a result of their in-depth examination of the book’s themes, several students also created websites based on genocides throughout history. Riverwood Language Arts teacher Christine Toledano leads two sections of 10th Grade Honors Literature. She said, “I thought it would be a great way to end our year with a Young Adult Fiction work from a local author.” Levy read passages from his book and treated the classes to a discussion about the writing process. After his time at the high school, Levy Tweeted it is “humbling how hard they’re thinking about my story.” Levy, a former high school English teacher and Associate Professor of Creative Writing and English Education at Kennesaw State University, has been the Director of Academics for the Georgia Film Academy since 2016. His first work for young adults,
Pizza With Shrimp On Top, is a play which has enjoyed over 60 national and international productions. The play received a nomination for the 2007 Distinguished National Play Award for Middle and Secondary School Audiences.
Image via Riverwood International Charters School
