3.75 stars. What I enjoyed most from this story was Cade, his Nana & their inn, and his connection to Logan. I never was able to fully buy into the intensity of The Assignment and the stories/lessons on Jewish history seemed forced into the structure at times. I was never “all in” or lost in the story. I can’t pinpoint why yet....maybe the writing style and format?

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE ASSIGNMENT by Liza Wiemer in exchange for my honest review.***

When a beloved history teacher gives an assignment to argue in favor of the holocaust to get a deeper perspective of the genocide the Nazi perpetrated, seniors Cade and Jordan set out to stop THE ASSIGNMENT.

Liza Wiemer wrote a Big Issue Book that doesn’t pretend to offer readers a choice on how to think about THE ASSIGNMENT. All of the characters against the debate are the Good Ones. All of the students in favor of the debate are anti Semitic. Mr Barclay has intentions of getting the teens to think outside the book, but hasn’t though through potential negative consequences of teens whose brains haven’t begun growing using the pro side for bullying. As a psychologist, I see value in examining (not debating) a despicable point of view as part of understanding human behavior to prevent history from repeating. To me, shutting down discussion is an opportunity lost. When we view things in absolute terms of black and white, we lose any possible ability to see humanity. Was every slave owner a terrible person? What of the man who treated his slaves well? He will always be wrong for having slaves, even if he’s not the same level of wrong as those who treated slaves poorly. Allowing for levels of wrong helps understand ancestors and history better with the basic premise slavery was wrong. Was every Nazi despicable? Did every Nazi want to follow Hitler? A discussion looking into possible thoughts of Nazis with the underlying given that everything about the Holocaust was wrong could have been a useful learning tool.

THE ASSIGNMENT is filled with information about Nazi Germany, and Mr Barclay doesn’t miss an opportunity to speak out against the Holocaust. He probably should have handled the class knuckleheads better.

Cade’s character when through the biggest transformation, his subplot was the most interesting. All of the characters were secondary to The Big Issue. With frequent point of view changes including students and faculty, grabbing on to anyone was difficult. I liked Mason, the bully coach’s son best.

THE ASSIGNMENT is an important, but heavy-handed story that could have been more nuanced.

The Assignment starts with a slow burn -- you think you know where the story is going, and then it throws in a twist, a turn, a bigger bad, a bigger uh-oh...and finally, it delivers a swirling dramatic final act that had me riveted. I've read dozens of books on the injustices that happen in schools, in WWII/Holocaust education, and where teens take matters into their own hands to address racism/intolerance/hate - but this one is nuanced and complex and shows how easy it is to get lost in complexity -- even when the need to act is clear. In today's world, we need to be thinking about not only the rhetoric of "teaching critical thinking" but also unanticipated consequences of education without careful direction, and the dangers of teaching in an echo-chamber. The assignment does all these things with great characters, narrative development, and a powerful take-home that makes it a timely read for YA readers.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you so much, Random House Children's and Delacorte Press for giving me the chance to read this book.

"History is one of our best teachers. Unfortunately, this assignment will show you that society hasn't learned much at all." *

During their senior year, Logan March and Cade Crawford are shocked and upset when their favourite teacher gives the class an assignment where they have to argue for the Final Solution. Aware that this kind of assignment could fuel rage and hate, they decide to take a stand against it, complaining to their teacher, their principal and then talking to an organization fighting for peace and justice, involving the press and do anything they could think of to stop the assignment and the debate.
When the school's administration refuses to cancel them and Logan's and Cade's involvment in the protest is addressed, the whole community, friends, parents and teachers are forced to face the issue, unearthing antisemitism, bigotry, rage and hate. Will Logan and Cade be able to fight for respect, love and humanity or will the hate prevail in the community they thought safe?

Cade and Logan are two best friends that decide to refuse and fight against the assignment, aware than this could, and will, validate some of their classmates' hate and antisemitism, above all some of the hockey's team. Logan and Cade are strong-willed, strong and determinate character, aware that they are fighting for the right thing, refusing to back down, even when they are targeted by online and in real life bullies.
The assignment focuses on Logan's and Cade's POVs and the reader learns to know them, their friendship, stubborness, fierceness and their relationship with their classmates and relatives. The reader is able to know Cade's bond to his parents and grandparents, to his Nana, his loyalty to his family's inn, his sacrifices for it and his own family, as Logan's relationship with her father and Logan's and Cade's crush for one other. But, even though the romance is addressed and present it doesn't put aside their fight and their focus and the consequences their opposition has on the community.

Even though Logan and Cade are the main characters, The assignment has multiple POVs, focusing on various classmates and their thoughts and involvement in the situation. Mason and his relationship with his girlfriend, his bullying and violent father, his teammates and their hate and anger; Heather and her determination, stubborness and desire to do the right thing, defying her father's wants; Daniel, bullied because he's gay and his stand with Logan and Cade; the principal, the teacher and so on. Through short or long chapters, the book shows the community's reaction to this assignment and Logan's and Cade's reaction to it.

One of the thing I found absolutely interesting, after reading the author's note, is that this assignment was inspired by a real antisemitic assignment, that was defied by two teenagers, Archer Shurtliff and Jordan April (like Logan and Cade). Even though The assignment is a work of fiction, I was shocked and upset( but, let's be honest, not so surprised) when I learned that there are and were many assignments like this one, fortunately defied by other brave teenagers.

In our current world, where concentration camps still exist, where hate, bigotry and anger are fuel for so many incidents around the world, I found this book realistic, riveting and unputdownable. Woven into the story, there are so many interesting historical facts I loved since I'm a history nerd, like Logan.
The characters, from the main to the side ones, are interesting, complex and really relatable, I found myself involved in the story right away, my attention captured.

The story, the historical facts, everything was heartbreaking, moving and beautifully and skillfully written.
This book is a must read. It's important, eye-opening, powerful and heartbreaking. It's about standing up for the right thing, be brave, be loving and it's absolutely amazing.

"Make your home, your school, your community a place where humanKIND is welcomed"*

*quotes are from the earc and could change in the final product

“History is one of our best teachers. Unfortunately, this assignment will show you that society hasn’t learned much at all.”

A story about the effects a small thing can have on the world. One “harmless” assignment spurs a social battle to end anti-semitism in a history classroom that reaches national news. Internment meets The Hate U Give for the Jewish people. Sadly, this is a story that is immensely relatable to current times and the US political and social climate. Even if you think what you are doing is right, that doesn’t mean it is. Beautifully crafted and a must read for every person.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

When a beloved teacher assigns a controversial assignment, two students stand against it. The assignment is this: to consider the pros and cons of the Final Solution, from the point of view of the Nazis, write a paper about it and attend a debate. When two best friends refuse to do the assignment, the school and the town have to grapple with racism, injustice, and how history does shape the present.

I couldn't put this book down,. It's a quick, vital read about taking on injustice and racism, and it's a very timely subject.

I think this book could be incredibly moving for a young adult audience, many of whom are probably not well-educated regarding the Holocaust. More importantly, I think it is important that we teach our youth about the importance of protest and decent. Especially in today's current client, they need to know that they are the future of our country and our world, and that means be integral in the way in which our country and its citizens are shaped and taught to see the world. My biggest note is that I would have loved for the Logan character to be fleshed out more. You learn so much about Caleb, but not much about Logan, and she is your protagonist. Regardless, I would recommend this to many young readers to read.

Logan and Cade epitomize what we need in America right now; we need individuals who recognize injustice and are willing to risk their own comfort to end it. They speak up when one of their most beloved teachers assigns a project that asks students to research and try to understand the Nazi perspective on the extermination of Jews during WWII. The assignment feels wrong as they believe there is no justification for such atrocities. Unlike most of their peers, they refuse the assignment and take measures to ensure the culminating activity, an in-class debate, will not occur. It gets ugly for them and their families as the true character of their peers, community members, and strangers on social media shows. The timeliness of Wiemer’s novel is perfect for today and will provide an excellent springboard for discussing the hard topics that are dividing us right now. I am excited to get this into the hands of teenagers and adults alike.

Immediately I was immersed into this book. When a teacher assigns the class to take sides on The Final Solution, Cade and Logan almost wonder if it is a moral test. However, they soon learn that in fact the teacher does want them to defend the choices made by the Nazi party. What unfolds is a community torn by teacher loyalty, white supremacy that rears its ugly head, bystanders who do nothing, allies who step in. Told in alternating voices of Cade and Logan, who not only speak up when it is uncomfortable, but they take action when it is difficult, because if no one does, who will? This book is so important and timely, hope everyone takes the time to read it!

As students in classrooms, young people are expected to accept and complete assignments given to them by their authority figures. Teachers rightfully expect not to have their authority questioned. Suppose, however, that an assignment was given that some students found to be morally reprehensible and they refused to comply. How would you react as the parent of one of those students;what would you want them to do with what they believed?
This is the dilemma that two high-school students, and their families, must face in this book. An assignment is given in which students are expected to participate in a debate in which they are”Nazis”, gave reasons to support the extermination of the Jews, and tell which methods are more effective. Cade and Logan, the two students, have no idea what turn of events will ensue when they stand up for their beliefs.
I think this book should be in every high school library and history classroom. As an educator, I believe it could be used to effectively teach about what can occur when hatred and prejudice is allowed to go unchecked. Since the setting is in modern times, I believe students would relate well to this book and learn the true meaning of the quote, “Those who do not lean from history are doomed to repeat it.”
**Thank you, Netgalley, for honoring my request for this book! All opinions are strictly my own.**

This novel tackles multiple controversial issues and Liza does a perfect job of hitting the strong points while showing the ugly side of hate. It’s absolutely sickening how this novel is based on true events (Liza lists similar assignments at the back of the book), but that significance was fueled into the words to create a powerful message. There were only a few things I wasn’t a fan of, the first being how short the story is. It was a super quick read and I wish it had been longer to give more background and personality to Logan and Cade. I also didn’t like the secondary plot of their romance because I felt it took away from the actual story. I wish they had remained friends and worked together to fight the discrimination and antisemitism in their town. Instead, the reader is giving tangents of Cade and Logan thinking about each other and not wanting to tell each other they are secretly in love. The final thing is Logan’s personality which I sometimes didn’t like. She was rude to Daniel a few times for no reason and I hated how she was portrayed as an average high school girl who had two guys pining over her. Despite these few cons, the book was a phenomenal and important read, especially with all the hate in the world today.

Books that present students with ethical dilemmas can serve as a way for students to explore these issues in their own lives. For them to work, however, the characters and their sense of conflict need to feel real. While the topic of this book is really interesting and the author raises good issues, the book lacks dramatic tension for two reasons. First, is that the outcome is clear. The antisemitic assignment is presented as such, and while I know as an educator that this sort of misguided stuff happens way too often, if there is no debate, there is no sense of "what happens next?" The character stories are also underdeveloped and feel like they are attached to add drama to the story as opposed to being the story's engine. The book uses multiple points of view, which ideally should help us better understand the various perspectives and dilemmas in the book, I didn't feel like I really understood any of them.

The Assignment is also heavy on historical details and exposition that serves to convey detailed information about the Wannasee convention. The dialog doesn't feel real. While we could really use stories that explore why students engage in antisemitic behavior without really understanding its impact, or how to act as an ally in a difficult situation, I don't see students connecting to this particular exploration of it.

This situation would make a great case for student exploration and debate. As a work of fiction, it's less compelling.

The world needs this book.

The book is based on a real life story of students in upstate New York being given an assignment that forces them to defend Nazi positions on the Final Solution. It actually asks the students to participate in a re-creation of the Wannsee Conference, the place where the Final Solution was agreed upon and implemented. Two students at this school think that this assignment is completely inappropriate (yes, yes it is) and fight it with everything they have.

I have read many books that are issue-based and this is one of the better ones. I have found that there are authors who sacrifice parts of the work - character development or plot, for example - to focus on whatever issue they are highlighting. Not so with this book. I found all the characters to be developed and I couldn't put the book down. Trigger Warning: there are descriptions of Nazi-occupied Poland and atrocities committed against Jews, Romas, POWs, etc.

This book was eye-opening. As a Jew and as an educator, this book is a much needed highlight into injustice in this world. While the story - based on a true story - was compelling as a novel, the part that was most fascinating to me was the author's note. The author, outraged at the real life events that inspired this novel, goes on to say that these assignments are still happening. Today. And they can focus on every type of bigotry there is - racism, antisemitism, anti-Islam, anti-LBGTQ, etc. And all in the name of education.

A valuable read and a great addition to any library collection.

The Assignment is a powerful novel that illustrates how racism and social injustice is still very prevalent in every day life and the impact it can have on an entire community. When Cade and Logan are given an assignment that will require them to "justify" the behavior of Nazis, they stop at nothing to have the assignment cancelled. I love Cade and Logan's friendship and the partnership they held throughout the entire book. Liza Wiemer demonstrates how to stand up for your beliefs and stop at nothing to be heard when you KNOW you are right. Wiemer also demonstrates the importance of knowing history- and learning from the mistakes of the past- not repeating them.

Stunning. Nuanced. So much to think about and so well-written. I'm so glad I had a chance to read this book and will be thinking about it for a long time.