Upper St. Clair School District

 

Alumna, author visits creative writing class

Upper St. Clair High School alumna and published author Rebecca Brewster Stevenson recently visited her alma mater to share her expertise with students in English teacher Daniela Buccilli’s creative writing class.

Ms. Stevenson talked with students about the power of metaphor and its role in her novel, “Healing Maddie Brees,” specifically as it pertains to Pittsburgh, the South Hills of Pittsburgh and the landscape of the city.

“Students enjoyed Rebecca’s descriptions of the Southside Slopes’ houses precariously perched like, ‘wrinkled skirts,’ and the different ways she used metaphor to tell her story,” Debbie Rentschler, high school librarian, said. “Ms. Stevenson encouraged students to pay very close attention to the details surrounding their environment, and to think of writing as an image an artist creates.”

“Healing Maddie Brees” has received positive reviews and the high school library has two copies available for students to check-out. Ms. Stevenson’s visit was made possible in part by the Upper St. Clair High School PTSO, which provided an honorarium to help defray the author’s travel expenses.