A dramatic presentation of a book burning ceremony took place at Widdifield Secondary School. Grade 10 students sat in an auditorium and watched as scenes from the novel The Book Thief were acted out. One of those scenes had students in Nazi attire pretend to set ablaze a pile of books. Lynda Marshall is the Lead Literacy Teacher. She explains The Book Thief is about a young girl growing up in a foster home in Germany during World War two. Marshall says the book teaches about relationships, survival and hope.  At the end of the presentation a few students from the audience went down to the stage and picked up a copy of the book. Soon the entire audience realized that was the intended purpose. Marshall explains every grade 10 class will be using The Book Thief during some point of the curriculum. She says it will show the students that they are all connected through literacy. Principal Lisa O’Kane says it’s important for students to really understand what people were going through during that time.

Written by: matthew.sookram@northbayradio.rogers.com