On May 4, 2018, classes participated in an author's reading in the forum, which was accompanied by English teacher Mrs. Trapp and organized by history teacher Ms. Schmiing. The guest was the Canadian author Nasreen Pejvack, who came from Sweden and Berlin and made a short stop on the way to Frankfurt. The students had prepared themselves for the 90-minute event with questions. In 2015, her first novel "Amity" was published, describing tragic stories of an Iranian refugee Payvand and a Croatian, Ragusa. The novel was on the shortlist for the 2016 BC Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. In the spring of 2018, she published two new books: a collection of short stories "Paradise of the Downcasts,” and as well as her poetry book "Waiting." After Nasreen had read a few passages, she was questioned only very hesitantly, which is probably due to the fact that you must first listen to the Canadian English. However, Nasreen did not let up and repeatedly encouraged the audience to ask her questions. Soon she was not just talking about her experiences as an immigrant in Canada and the US, but also about writing, exercising political responsibility and freedom of expression, and standing up for democracy and religious freedom. The author emphatically pointed to the responsibility of young people. She repeatedly stated that plaintiffs in the future, through their vigorous actions, should stand up for democratic values and dare to say something when living conditions and political circumstances deteriorate. The majority of the students were deeply impressed by Nasreen's personality, who at the end signed numerous copies of her works. Also, Ms. Pejvack said afterwards that she enjoyed the event very well. So far, she has read mainly in universities, bookstores and libraries. Because the contact with our high school students was very inspiring, she could well imagine being a guest at Canadian schools in the

Future. C. Schmiing

Gymnasium Hittfeld

Schule des Landkreises Harburg, Gemeinde Seevetal

Lesung der kanadischen - Autorin: Nasreen Pejvack