On the evening of Thursday, May 18, author Brian O’Raleigh met virtually with Mr. Reilly’s eleventh- and twelfth-grade English class to discuss his novel Passage to Inis Mór, which the class had recently completed. O’Raleigh joined the class from Sydney, Australia (with his morning coffee!) to discuss his writing process, his path to becoming a writer, and his inspiration for the novel. The curriculum for this year’s class included folklore from around the world and contemporary works that incorporated ancient mythology; Passage to Inis Mór is set in Sydney and in the Aran Islands in Ireland, and is steeped in Irish legend. The themes of following one’s calling and inclusion in community were central to the novel and also resonated with the students. Passage to Inis Mór was a class favorite for the year, and everyone enjoyed the question-and-answer segment of the session — seniors currently away for their Horizon experiences were even able to participate! In appreciation for his time, the class has sent O’Raleigh a Pennington polo.