Available for virtual visits in: British Columbia (Vancouver Island) and Manitoba
Craft: Author
Genre: Historical Fiction /Middle grade / Teen Historical Fiction
Target Audience: Grades 4-8
Cost for School and Public Presentation with CCBC subsidy: $200.00, plus applicable taxes
Workshop Information:
Presentation #1: Hidden on the High Wire (Grades 5-7; 45 minutes)
My presentation revolves around a slide presentation and talk. I have wonderful historical slides pertaining to each of my novels and I weave my stories around the historical events of the Second World War and the Holocaust. I begin with an introduction to my work as a writer of historical fiction and historical non-fiction. I give a background and synopsis of the book(s) that I am focusing on and read from the book(s). I then proceed with the slide show using power point presentation.
For Hidden on the High Wire (the story of a Jewish high wire performer named Irene Danner who was hidden in a circus during the Second World War and the Holocaust), I have slides of the real Irene, the circus she came from and where she hid, etc. The presentation is visual, interactive, and fast-paced.
I encourage questions and comments throughout my reading and presentation.
Presentation #2: Heroes of the Holocaust (Grades 4-8; 45 minutes)
This presentation focuses on those courageous individuals who were willing to risk their own lives to help their Jewish friends and neighbours. It will help remind students about the high price people paid to escape persecution and the heroes who helped them. Students will learn what it took to be a rescuer and demonstrate moral courage at that dangerous time – who the rescuers were and where they came from.
There will be a different set of books that I refer to depending on the grade level. For students in grades 4-6, I will talk about The Secret of Gabi’s Dresser, The Brushmaker’s Daughter, and The Brave Princess and Me. For students in grades 6-8, I will refer to Masters of Silence, Hidden on the High Wire, and Under the Iron Bridge.
Once again, this presentation revolves around a slide presentation and talk. For each book there will be a unique set of slides focusing on the real people I write about. The presentation, as with my other one, is visual, interactive, and fast-paced, and I encourage questions and comments throughout.
* I should note that I can also do writing workshops for kids that also include a slide presentation and talk. In addition, I am able to provide workshops for educations that focus on the topic of Teaching Sensitive Material to Young People.
Book List
Historical Fiction:
The Secret of Gabi’s Dresser, Second Story Press, 1999
Clara’s War, Second Story Press, 2001
The Night Spies, Second Story Press, 2003
The Diary of Laura’s Twin, Second Story Press, 2008
Stones on a Grave, Orca Books, 2015 (Part of the Seven Secrets series)
Broken Strings, (co-authored with Eric Walters), Puffin Canada, 2019
Under the Iron Bridge, Second Story Press, 2021
Hidden on the High Wire, Second Story Press, 2022
Series: Historical Fiction:
Margit: Book One, Home Free, Penguin Books Canada, 2003 (Part of the Our Canadian Girl series)
Margit: Book Two, A Bit of Love and A Bit of Luck, Penguin Books Canada, 2005 (Part of the Our Canadian Girl series)
Margit: Book Three, Open Your Doors, Penguin Books Canada, 2006 (Part of the Our Canadian Girl series)
Margit: Book Four, A Friend in Need, Penguin Book Canada, 2007 (Part of the Our Canadian Girl Series)
Whispers from the Ghettos, Penguin Books Canada, 2009
Whispers from the Camps, Penguin Books Canada, 2009
Whispers in Hiding, Penguin Books Canada, 2010
The Heroes Quartet:
The Sound of Freedom, Annick Press, Canada, 2017
Masters of Silence, Annick Press, Canada, 2019
Louder than Words, Annick Press, Canada, 2020
Call Across the Sea, Annick Press, Canada, 2021
Children’s Non-Fiction:
The Underground Reporters, Second Story Press, 2004
Hiding Edith, Second Story Press, 2006
To Hope and Back: The journey of the St. Louis, Second Story Press, 2011
We Are Their Voice: Today’s youth respond to the Holocaust, Second Story Press, 2012
Shanghai Escape, Second Story Press, 2013
The Magician of Auschwitz, Second Story Press, 2014
I Am Not a Number, (co-authored with Jenny K. Dupuis), Second Story Press, 2016
To Look a Nazi in the Eye (with Jordana Lebowitz), Second Story Press, 2017
The Brave Princess and Me, Second Story Press, 2019
Adult Non-Fiction:
Restitution: A family’s fight for their heritage lost in the Holocaust, Second Story Press, 2010
Biography
As a children’s author, Kathy Kacer is dedicated to writing about the Holocaust in a way that is sensitive to the age and stage of development of a young reader.
Kathy was born in Toronto and has lived there all her life. She has a Master’s degree in Psychology and worked for many years with troubled teens and their families. She stopped working full time in 1995 to pursue her dream of becoming a children’s author. That dream came true with the publication of her first book, The Secret of Gabi’s Dresser, in 1999. She has been writing ever since.
Kathy’s parents were both survivors of the Holocaust. Her mother survived the war by hiding. Her father was a survivor of the concentration camps. The stories of survival that her parents told her were an inspiration to her as she was growing up. As an adult, she was determined to write their stories and pass them on to young readers. Kathy has gone on to write 30 books, focused on the Holocaust. These books include, The Diary of Laura’s Twin, To Hope and Back, Hiding Edith, The Magician of Auschwitz, Broken Strings (with Eric Walters), Under the Iron Bridge, and others. Many of her books have won awards in Canada, the United States, and Israel. Her books have been sold in over twenty countries including Germany, China, Holland, Italy, England, Belgium, and Japan. Two of her books have been optioned for film.
Kathy teaches writing at the University of Toronto (Continuing Studies). She also speaks to children in schools and libraries around the world, about the importance of understanding the Holocaust and keeping its memory alive. In addition, she lectures in universities and colleges on the topic of teaching sensitive material to young children.
Kathy is married to a successful lawyer and they have two children – Gabi and Jake. Both children share the family’s love for music and stories.
