Une chaise vide

by Cathy Ytak

Histoire d’un adolescent sans-papier en France, menacé d’expulsion avec sa famille, qui va être défendu par sa classe, et même son école. Une histoire qui pourrait être pleine d’espoir, de solidarité, etc., mais si l’adolescent en question est bien sauvé in extremis du renvoi à la frontière, dans le même temps un autre adolescent est expulsé avec toute sa famille, sans que personne n’ait jamais su que c’était un sans-papier

Genres: School

39 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2009

About the author

Cathy Ytak was born in France in 1962. Both of her parents were teachers. She grew up in Paris but spent her vacations in the Jura Mountains, near Switzerland. Later on, she lived for a few months in Brazil, then in Barcelona, Spain.

She began writing stories as soon as she knew how to read and write. She has always loved books. When she was 15, she quit high school to attend a technical college where she studied book production and earned a diploma in bookbinding. By the time she was 18, she was working at various jobs such as sorting mail, housecleaning, bookbinding, etc. She worked for seven years as a sales assistant in a photo shop, which she enjoyed very much.

At the age of 27, she went back to school to study Catalan and to become a translator. At the same time, she was working as a journalist, which was bringing her closer to writing stories. During this period, she never stopped writing, even though none of her books were published. Her first novel was released in 1999.

Writing is part of Cathy’s life, even though it is not a full-time career. Until recently, she worked full-time as a translator of Catalan. Now she divides her time between writing and translating. She also likes to cook, and has published several recipe books on making bread and yogurt. She finds that cooking and writing have a lot in common: you start with practically nothing (flour, words), you add spices and flavoring, stir it with love, and it becomes a book or a dish to share or give as a gift. She finds it all very magical.

For Cathy, a writer is like a musician who uses words instead of notes. In order to become a composer of words, all you have to do is open your eyes, listen to the sounds around you, whether they be harmonious or dissonant, and be patient, very patient …

Reviews

[Celine · Rating 5 out of 5]

facile à lire. je pense que les élèves en particulier doivent le lire, parce que le message devrait être enseigné à tout le monde.

[Phil · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible