Visiting Author Speaks to MTHS Students

The following are student comments about a visiting author, Fern Schumer Chapman, who recently spoke to students at Manchester Township High School.  Her visit was sponsored by the Manchester PTA.

“Recently at Manchester Township High School, a very famous author, Fern Schumer Chapman, came to talk about her books. Fern Schumer Chapman wrote two famous novels, Motherland and Is It Night or Day?, which she talked about. She told the students that both novels were based on her mother’s experience during the Holocaust. Her book Motherland is a memoir and her novel Is It Night or Day? is historic fiction. She told the students and staff many things, but some will never be forgotten.  Is It Night or Day? is about what her mother went through trying to escape to America for a safe life.” — Taylor Pease

“Overall, the presentation was attention grabbing and educational.  On many levels people started to connect to Chapman and her mother. Many actually went home and started to question where their ancestors were from and what happened to them as they came to America. Mrs. Schumer Chapman really got students thinking about heritage and to be sympathetic to foreigners or immigrants, because that is one of the hardest things to get used to: a new home. Mrs. Chapman also shared that Edith’s childhood friend was found, and Manchester students were the lucky ones to find out first. Speaking on behalf of the other students, we would like to thank Mrs. Chapman for teaching us and sharing her family’s history.” — Sydney Kauffman

“All in all, Fern Schumer Chapman's visit to the school was an excellent experience. Hopefully, she will come again to tell us about her new novel, which she is now writing, and will be able to fill us in on what happened. Honestly, her books were amazing and I encourage anyone to read them, since her novels can easily be related to because of the feeling of loneliness that everyone has felt at some point in their lives.” — Selena Macias

“To some, or many, this author’s visit could have been life changing; Fern Schumer Chapman has even inspired Mrs. Weber, a ninth grade English teacher here at Manchester Township High School to write a novel about similar things to the Chapman’s.” — Dylan Spiel