YA Novel Inspired by Real Teens Who Spoke Up

Introducing the YA novel THE ASSIGNMENT by Liza Wiemer inspired by a true story:

In 2017 in the town of Oswego, New York, during a college-level English class for high school seniors, a teacher asked his students to debate the WWII Final Solution of the Nazis taking either the side of exterminating all Jews in Europe or the side of concentration camps, sterilization, and starvation.

Two real-life students in that class composed predominantly of non-Jewish whites — Archer Shurtliff and Jordan April – protested the offensive assignment. The teens believed that no one should defend the indefensible.

In the vein of the classic THE WAVE and inspired by a real-life incident, this riveting novel THE ASSIGNMENT explores discrimination and antisemitism and reveals their dangerous impact:

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?

The novel begins:

What you’re about to read is a fictionalized story based on an actual assignment given to students in a New York high school education program. It’s an assignment that could be given anywhere.

Any country. Any town. Any school. Even yours.

You can find the novel THE ASSIGNMENT on Amazon (this is NOT an associate link). Highly recommended for both teens and adults!

UPDATE: Since the publication of this real-life inspired novel in August 2020, author Liza Wiemer has received reports of numerous similar assignments currently being given in U.S. schools. In June 2021 she had a list of 48 similar assignments and climbing! As Liza Wiemer pointed out, “It’s so horrific how many assignments have been given. Imagine how many go unchallenged and unreported!”

And here is an interview of Liza Wiemer by KERA in Dallas/Ft. Worth — FICTIONAL TEENS VS. REAL-LIFE MONSTERS/.

Liza Wiemer is named one of the top 100 people positively influencing Jewish life in 2021.