Visiting Author Inspires Students

Visiting author Leza Lowitz captivated FWCD’s sixth graders with Up from the Sea, her novel in verse about resilience after Japan’s 2011 tsunami. Having lived in Japan during the disaster, she shared her firsthand experiences –witnessing devastation, leading a yoga benefit, and traveling to Kesennuma to offer healing services. Writing through the aftershocks of the tsunami led her to craft the novel in verse.

Moved to become a writer by a childhood encounter with Maya Angelou, Lowitz now encourages students to find their voices and use them for good. In addition to meeting with sixth graders, Lowitz led a yoga session with Upper School students, merging mindfulness with creative expression.

Lowitz’s commitment extended beyond words – she used her book advance to build the Oshika Library for a tsunamiaffected community. Quoting Helen Keller, she reminded students that small acts of compassion can create lasting impact.