Book Review: Two Old Women

    Never judge a book by its cover—or, in this case, its title. I’m not going to lie: a title like Two Old Women is not the type of title that grabs my attention as a must-read. However, this book also highlighted that it was an Alaskan story of betrayal and survival, which piqued my interest. It is also the tale of an Athabaskan nation, one of the Indigenous groups of Alaska, which is why I have included it with our Global Scholars books. Yes, Alaska is part of the United States, but Native American and Native Alaskan cultures are part of the global diversity that we may miss out on in mainstream America. Exposure to these cultures can help us connect with the Indigenous communities of the world. So yes, this is Global Scholar approved.

  

  The book takes place in the Alaskan wilderness before the arrival of Europeans. It is a tale from the Athabaskan oral traditions that was put down on paper in this book by Velma Wallis, a member of the Gwich’in Nation, which is part of the larger Athabaskan group. The tale addresses the old tradition among nomadic groups of leaving older members of the tribe behind when they became too old to contribute to the group, essentially leaving them behind to die. However, in this story, the two old women who were left behind were not ready to give up and die in the wilderness. Instead, they worked together to persevere and survive despite being in their 70s or 80s. The story also explores the challenges of rebuilding trust, relationships, and community, as well as respecting life at all ages, including the elderly, and acknowledging the wisdom and knowledge that they carry.

    I do recommend this book to Global Scholar students, especially if you like books about survival or adventure. It is also a good, quick read for students who are trying to catch up on their books and literary reviews. It is only about 160 pages and could very likely be completed in a weekend.

This book can be found in Mr. Montanye's classroom, room number 228.

Where are they now? Delaney Kostrzewski - 2021

One very cool aspect of the Global Scholars program isn’t just the events and classes that take place in the high school building (although they are pretty great, if I do say so myself), but also seeing where students are a few years after graduation. This is what really highlights the benefits of the program and how it helps prepare students for a globalized future. Below is a spotlight on one of our Global Scholar graduates from the Class of 2021, based on responses to a few questions I sent her in 2025.

Favorite Memory from the Global Scholars Program

Hello everyone! I’m Delaney Kostrzewski, and I graduated in 2021. One event I remember vividly was learning from a guest speaker from the Peace Corps. He had served in Uganda, and we were able to ask him all kinds of questions. It really enhanced my understanding of the possibilities and requirements involved in participating in the Peace Corps. To this day, it is still on my agenda to pursue such an experience, of course, after I finish my degree.

I also had many opportunities to travel around Europe with the foreign exchange students I met during my high school career. In fact, I still keep in touch with many of them to this day!

 

Traveling to Prague with former exchange student from Czech Republic

What Global Experiences Have You Had After High School? 

I have been living in Venice for 2 and a half years. I am studying at Ca Foscari University, in the degree program for Philosophy, International Studies and Economics. I have learned how to speak Italian, which is super fun and helpful since I can now talk to locals and make new friends authentically! I feel more at ease having learned the language. Italy has become my second home. 

 

This is Roberta, one of my local Venetian friends! She doesn’t speak English, and that’s why it’s important to learn the local language! Fosters friendships of all kinds! 

 

Has Being A Global Scholar Helped You After High School? If So, How?

The Global Scholars program has helped me foster conversation and break down barriers that I might have otherwise encountered while living abroad. It has also benefited my education, as I am able to follow along more fluidly with the knowledge I previously acquired. Through the books I read that showed me different realities of the world, such as The Kite Runner, and through field trips that introduced me to different religious traditions, I have been able to gain a deeper understanding of people’s values and the complexity of our world.

Dressed up for Carnival in Venice

Book Review: The Last Colony

The Last Colony

I was excited to pick up a new book in our school library, The Last Colony. Written by international lawyer Philippe Sands, The Last Colony tells the story of the Chagos Islands and their journey through the International Court of Justice.

Philippe Sands has a smooth writing style, making this international legal drama easy to read and follow. He presents the historical background of the Atlantic Charter, a document signed by President Franklin Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War II, which outlined principles supporting decolonization and self-determination for territories around the globe. This document set the stage for the independence of many countries around the world today.

The Chagos Islands were part of the Mauritius territory before being separated to create the British Indian Ocean Territory. During this time, Chagos residents were relocated to Mauritius, which later became an independent country. This relocation is at the heart of the dilemma. The Chagossians claim that their removal was forced and unlawful under international law, and Mauritius brought charges against the United Kingdom for “crimes against humanity” related to the forced removal of its residents.

This is not an old historical story from a hundred years ago, nor one so distant that students would struggle to see its relevance. While the book provides historical background on the United Nations and the International Court of Justice, the court case itself took place in The Hague in 2019. The story continues even after the ruling, as countries stalled before acting on the court’s decision.

As a social studies and geography teacher, I also enjoyed the discussion of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), an AP Human Geography concept. This book is a strong example of what international law can accomplish today and has given me useful material to reference when students ask, “What does the International Court do anyway?” It is always helpful to have an example beyond simply “holding trials for people who committed genocide.”

The blue tab identifies the location of the Chagos Islands. 
Purple tab identifies the location of the International Court of Justice in Hague, Netherlands.

A quick Google search also shows that the Chagos Islands are of interest to the United States due to the presence of a military base, as well as the Trump administration’s criticism of the court’s ruling.

I recommend this book for students interested in international law and international politics.