Reed Winnipeg, Manitoba

Fair address: Red River Heritage Fair

Project: Hana's Suitcase - The Canadian Connection

Hana's Suitcase is an award winning book written by a Canadian author, Karen Levine. This book is about a young sister and brother, Hana and George Brady who lived in Czechoslovakia during the Holocaust.This project is about discrimination and promoting tolerance and peace for everyone.

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

The most interesting thing I learned was how Hana and George's lives were so impacted by discrimination and hate. I was heartbroken when I learned about Hana and George being excluded from their school and friends. I did not realize that this could happen to so many people over such a long time.

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

A lesson that I have learned from this project is how easily discrimination can spread and how to stand up for those that are not being treated well. I also learned that persistence is important in order to find out something you would like to know. Fumiko Ishioka taught me this when she was looking for information about Hana's suitcase.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

I realize how lucky I am to have a home, food, friends, schooling, and a loving mother and a father. Hana and George were not able to have this during a part of their lives. I hope people remember how difficult it was to live when the Nazi's were so cruel to people.