Night By Anna Papst

Night was an emotional rollercoaster for me. I couldn’t read the entire book in one sitting. I understand why this book was chosen for a unit on the Holocaust because it gives the personal perspective of a person who went through this history. There are many opportunities and teaching moments that you can pull from this text. Students would feel a connection with the main character due to the fact that he is their ages. The family ties also would allow you to direct thoughtful discussions in the classroom. Even if students do not know too much about this history, through this book, they would be able to get that deeper understanding.

I would also use the different characters in the book as case studies. Each student could take a different character and write a paper with the perspective of the individual that they chose. This would allow deeper discussions and meanings to come out of the text. Also, I would have students read the book in groups and aloud if they wanted to for extra credit. The book is well written and the language is emotional and impactful.

This is definitely a book that I would also want to read aloud to my students. I would take parts out of the book and create a lesson around the language that he has chosen. I would not want the students to read the book at home, due to the emotions that it could create. It would be better to read it in class and then discuss as we go along. There are multiple themes of loss, hardship, striving, and even dignity that one could pull out and teach on. This book is definitely needed to understand the holocaust in an unusual way from the perspective of a boy who went through, lived it and survived to tell the story today.