Night

Night is the story of a Hungarian boy name Eliezer during the Holocaust. He is first moved from his home into the ghettos of his town before finally being taken to the concentration camp, Auschwitz. While there, Eliezer is separated from his family, beaten by other inmates, and subjected to the horrors that were the Nazi party. Eliezer loses his faith, his family, and his humanity before finally being rescued. Eliezer is widely accepted as a stand-in for the author of the book, Elie Wiesel. While the book appears to be fiction, in actuality it is a recounting of Elie’s life and stories during the Holocaust.

When I was in 8^th grade, we read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas as our Holocaust book. That story was historical fiction and was a fairly easy read for me then. In my practicum, I found that the 8^th graders I work with are starting Night next week and I am surprised. The main obstacles I see are how much more graphic and intense the scenes are than those in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

Even though the obstacles are large, I believe that this is a worthwhile read for students as it presents a more real and emotional experience for students.