Herzliah Students Sure Ask Great Questions

As part of my responsibilities as the 2026 writer-in-residence for Montreal's Jewish Public Library, I have been doing a series of writing workshops. Yesterday was my first JPL workshop with teens (the others have been with adults).

I visited Mr. Saragosti's Grade Nine English class at the nearby Herzliah High School. We  had hoped to be joined by students from a public alternative school, but the plan fell through on account of there not being enough students from that school who were game to attend. We were all slightly disappointed -- I had really wanted to show how the JPL serves all members of the Montreal community, not only those who are Jewish. But on the bright side, my friend who teaches at the alternative school will be meeting with people from the JPL in hopes of coming up with another way to get her students to the library.

Mr. Saragosti and his class have been reading Laurie Halse Anderson's amazing YA novel Speak. So in preparation for yesterday, I've been reading it too. It's both heartbreaking and funny -- a combination I adore in a book. 

I spent part of yesterday's session sharing writing tips, and at the end there was time for me to look at the assignment about Speak the kids are working on. In between, they asked me some terrific questions, so I thought that for today's blog entry, I'd share some with you. 

The question that cracked me up came from Nathaniel, shortly after I explained that I write a blog which students could find on my website and where they might be mentioned. Nathaniel asked, "What's so great about being in your blog?" (I'm still chuckling while I write this!) Anyway, I had to answer honestly, so I told him: "Nothing." But then I added that the blog is a way for me to sum up a school visit, and to reflect on how it went -- and that perhaps students may learn from it too.

I showed the students my journal (and explained how I've been writing three pages in a journal for more than 35 years). So a student named Ava wanted to know, "Do you ever get tired of writing every single day?" The answer is no! Because every time I finish writing in my journal I notice I feel a little better than when I started! Also, daily writing helps to keep my writing muscles limber.

Shyley (great name!) wanted to know if I ever run out of stories. The answer to that was also no! And I told the class how I feel as if the air is thick with stories. And once you start paying attention to stories you'll find them everywhere!

Henry asked, "Do you revise the work you do in your journal?" The answer was never! I revise everything else I do (I can't seem to stop revising, even after one of my books is published, when I read it I think, 'Oh I could have done a better job on that line!'). But the work I do on my journal is a bit like skating is for a hockey player. I just need to go round the rink without worrying how my skating looks!

Gabby wanted to know whether I come up with my own book covers. I was answering that I don't, when a super interesting thing happened! Are you ready?

I haven't told you this yet, but JPL youth engagement librarian Amanda Bartlett came to meet the students and sit in on my talk, and at that very moment, she explained that before coming to Montreal she had worked as a book designer for Bloomsbury Publishing. (Bloomsbury is a big name in publishing!) How interesting is that?! I dropped Amanda off at the JPL afterwards and made her promise to send me some of the covers she designed for Bloomsbury.

Henry and Ben stayed late so I could give them pointers on their assignments. Henry is writing a poem from the point of view of the mother in Speak. Ben is writing a lovely piece about a hummingbird, who, like the book's narrator is an outcast. What I loved about both of these students was how open they were to my comments. As Henry put it, "I want to improve my writing" -- which is saying something since he and Ben are already talented writers!

Good questions and open minds make me happy! Thanks to the JPL for bringing me to Herzliah; to Mr. Saragosti for sharing your students with me; to Amanda for coming and sharing some of your own story with us; to Herzliah's Stéphanie who took photos for the school newsletter. And thanks to the students for being delightful. Nathaniel, I hope you will take some pleasure in having been mentioned in today's blog!!