Trinity's eighth graders are reading the book "Refugee" and while they can read the words on the pages, they really come to life when the author provides his perspective when writing the book. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the class had the opportunity to chat with the author, Alan Gratz. 

The book, "Refugee" is centered around three characters, Josef, a Jewish boy living in 1930 Nazi Germany, who boards a ship bound for the other side of the world; Isabel, a Cuba girl from 1994 facing riots and unrest when her family boards a raft set for the United States; and  Mahmoud, a Syrian boy living in violence and destruction in 2015, who starts toward Europe with his family. Through the decades and their various locations, they will all tie together in the end. 

Sponsored by the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Gratz was able to connect with the students to talk about not only "Refugee" but another two of his 16 books, "Grenade" and "Allies."

Gratz discussed the history behing the books as well as the characters and ther writing process. He also talked about he importance of amateur oral historians. Gratz pressed into the class that World War II is a fascinating as a historical topic, but also in the way that it has shaped the world today. 

"So much of our modern world is defined by what happened in World War II," said Gratz. "And, of course, we are seeing a resurgance in some of the same themes and political themes that we say during World War II." 

His bottom line, "We are stronger when we work together."