Author Karen Kirsten in Conversation

Karen Kirsten is the author of , shortlisted for the Australian Jewish Book Award. Karen is an Australian-American writer and Holocaust educator who speaks on the topics of hatred and reconciliation around the world. Her work explores the intersection of history, war, displacement, and identity.

Raised in Australia by a Holocaust survivor mother and grandparents who silenced her questions about extermination camps, Karen lived among refugees who were hiding horrible secrets to reinvent themselves. After Karen discovered the grandmother she loved was in fact her mother’s aunt, she traveled the globe to uncover her family’s hidden past. She found the heroes who saved her mother and then facilitated awarding them Righteous Among The Nations medals. As an educator for Facing History, Karen recognizes the importance of discussing students’ most frequent question: “Was the SS officer who saved your mother a good Nazi?”​ Karen has lived in five countries across 3 continents and now calls MA, USA home.​

Ticket price includes a copy of her book, Irena's Gift.

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