Night, by Elie Wiesel

            Night is one of those books that hits hard.  The story of a Jewish boy who survived a concentration camp should only be shared by a survivor, and Elie Wiesel did it best.  It has been taught in schools for so long, and for good reason.  I remember reading it in high school, but it is one of the stories that sticks with you, and gives a firsthand perspective of one of the most devastating events in history.  I don’t remember how my teacher’s taught it, but even if I don’t, the story itself teaches more than any class could.  The Holocaust can only be truly understood by learning through the words of a survivor.  I am not certain if English and History departments work together to implement this book during the study of World War II, but they should.  Night brings reality to an often misunderstood war.  Elie Wiesel provides an account the history books can’t.  Pretty soon, there won’t be any survivors of World War II around to tell us their stories, and it will just be another event in history, so by keeping this and The Diary of Anne Frank in schools, the people who suffered so much loss will always be remembered.

            Teaching history through literature is one of my favorite parts of becoming a teacher.  Literature is history, so by emphasizing that fact and presenting students with a firsthand account of historical events, is, in my opinion, one of the greatest gift we can give them.  Books like Night do double duty and can really bring students a taste of reality.  Our teens are so consumed by themselves, by the drama of celebrities, and by the football game last Friday, that they NEED to experience books like Night.  Sometimes, a little dose of reality goes a long way and encourages students to be grateful for what they have and what they haven’t had to see.  I hope this book never gets taken out of curriculum because it is one of the most touching accounts of courage, hope, and humanity.