The Assignment

by: Liza Wiemer

Recommended Age: YA Readers (12+ and above)

Lexile: 720L

Content Warning(s): Anti-semitism, discrimination, racism, hate crimes

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"SENIOR YEAR. When an assignment given by a favorite teacher instructs a group of students to argue for the Final Solution, a euphemism used to describe the Nazi plan for the genocide of the Jewish people, Logan March and Cade Crawford are horrified. Their teacher cannot seriously expect anyone to complete an assignment that fuels intolerance and discrimination. Logan and Cade decide they must take a stand.

As the school administration addressed the teens' refusal to participate in the appalling debate, the student body, their parents, and the larger community are forced to face the issue as well. The situation explodes, and acrimony and anger result. What does it take for tolerance, justice, and love to prevail?"

My Thoughts:

The Assignment was a thought-provoking, compelling novel. Truthfully, it was horrifying that the assignment given to students (a debate portraying the Wannsee Conference) followed the premise of an actual project that students received in 2017 in Oswego, New York state (just five years ago!). Though sometimes I felt that the writing was not as sophisticated as it could have been, the subject and plot more than made up in that aspect. Cade and Logan were perfect examples of advocating even when no one's on your side, always following your moral compass, and calling out the ignorant despite the consequences.