Night

Title: Night

Author: Elie Wiesel

Pages: 120

Genre: Memoir

Grade: A

Synopsis: Elie Wiesel was a Jew born in Transylvania. In 1944 he and his family were gathered up by the Nazis and forced into the Auschwitz concentration camp. He was separated from his mother and sister and never saw them again. Luckily, he was able to remain with his father for the bulk of his stay in the camps. After a time at Aushwitz, he was transferred to Buchenwald as the Russians were close to liberating the camp. During the journey from one camp to the other, they were packed tightly 100 men to an open-roofed cattle train car - and only 12 finished the trip alive. Elie Wiesel won the Nobel Peace Prize for this book and his efforts in not letting the world forget the Holocaust.

My Review: I knew that this iconic book about the Holocaust would be a difficult read. We've all heard the stories, but realizing that they are true and that people really suffered as described is so sad and disturbing. I also find it repulsing just how many people were willing to treat other humans so wretchedly. As the review by the New York Times states on the back of the book: "A slim volume of terrifying power."

From the Book: "Listen to me, kid. Don't forget that you are in a concentration camp. In this place, it is every many for himself, and you cannot think of others. Not even you father. In this place, there is no such thing as father, brother, friend. Each of us lives and dies alone. Let me give you good advice: stop giving your ration of bread and soup to your old father. You cannot help him anymore. And you are hurting yourself. In fact, you should be getting his rations..."