Penelope Ward

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A new enemies-to-lovers story…

Reasons why I should not be drawn to Troy Serrano. Number one: He’s obnoxious. Number two: He and I were enemies over a decade ago in high school. Number three: He’s my friend’s ex-boyfriend. I could go on and on, really. When my boss gives me an unwanted assignment and tells me it involves spending time with the grandson of one of our residents—the grandson turns out to be Troy. He’s now as successful as he is undeniably handsome. Lucky me. Four hours a week of having to deal with his insufferable personality and unsolicited advice. The only consolation is getting to stare at his annoyingly gorgeous face in between our many arguments. Eventually, though, we slowly warm to each other and our outings become something I actually look forward to. What’s happening to me? Apparently, I misunderstood the assignment, because it certainly didn’t include thinking about Troy when I close my eyes at night, imagining what it would be like with him—just once. All the while hating myself for fantasizing about a guy who’s all wrong for me. A guy whose car I keyed back in the day. (Long story, but he deserved it.) That’s all this is—a fantasy. Well, until that one night at the bar. The night Troy and I run into each other, and all of our pent-up frustration comes barreling out. Still, I refuse to accept that it means anything. There’s no way the guy I’m supposed to hate is also the one I can’t live without.

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The Assignment

By liza wiemer, by liza wiemer read by emily lawrence , lincoln hoppe , julia whelan , andrew eiden , liza wiemer and full cast, category: teen & young adult fiction | teen & young adult social issues, category: teen & young adult fiction | teen & young adult social issues | audiobooks.

Aug 31, 2021 | ISBN 9780593123195 | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 --> | Young Adult | ISBN 9780593123195 --> Buy

Aug 25, 2020 | ISBN 9780593123164 | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 --> | Young Adult | ISBN 9780593123164 --> Buy

Aug 25, 2020 | ISBN 9780593123171 | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 --> | Young Adult | ISBN 9780593123171 --> Buy

Aug 25, 2020 | ISBN 9780593123188 | Young Adult | ISBN 9780593123188 --> Buy

Aug 25, 2020 | 537 Minutes | Young Adult | ISBN 9780593207871 --> Buy

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The Assignment by Liza Wiemer

Aug 31, 2021 | ISBN 9780593123195 | Young Adult

Aug 25, 2020 | ISBN 9780593123164 | Young Adult

Aug 25, 2020 | ISBN 9780593123171 | Young Adult

Aug 25, 2020 | ISBN 9780593123188 | Young Adult

Aug 25, 2020 | ISBN 9780593207871 | Young Adult

537 Minutes

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About The Assignment

Inspired by a real-life incident, this riveting novel explores the dangerous impact discrimination and antisemitism have on one community when a school assignment goes terribly wrong. Would you defend the indefensible ? That’s what seniors Logan March and Cade Crawford are asked to do when a favorite teacher instructs a group of students to argue for the Final Solution–the Nazi plan for the genocide of the Jewish people. Logan and Cade decide they must take a stand, and soon their actions draw the attention of the student body, the administration, and the community at large. But not everyone feels as Logan and Cade do–after all, isn’t a school debate just a school debate? It’s not long before the situation explodes, and acrimony and anger result. Based on true events, The Assignment asks: What does it take for tolerance, justice, and love to prevail ? “An important look at a critical moment in history through a modern lens showcasing the power of student activism.” — SLJ

A SYDNEY TAYLOR NOTABLE BOOK   Inspired by a real-life incident, this riveting novel explores discrimination and antisemitism and reveals their dangerous impact. Would you defend the indefensible? That’s what seniors Logan March and Cade Crawford are asked to do when a favorite teacher instructs a group of students to argue for the Final Solution–the Nazi plan for the genocide of the Jewish people. Logan and Cade decide they must take a stand, and soon their actions draw the attention of the student body, the administration, and the community at large. But not everyone feels as Logan and Cade do–after all, isn’t a school debate just a school debate? It’s not long before the situation explodes, and acrimony and anger result. Based on true events, The Assignment asks: What does it take for tolerance, justice, and love to prevail? “An important look at a critical moment in history through a modern lens showcasing the power of student activism.” – SLJ

Listen to a sample from The Assignment

Also by liza wiemer.

Extraordinary Guidance

About Liza Wiemer

Liza Wiemer is an award-winning educator with over twenty years of experience. She is the author of two adult nonfiction books, as well as a young adult novel. She lives in Milwaukee with her family. Visit her at LizaWiemer.com and… More about Liza Wiemer

Product Details

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“ I recommend this book . . . as a model of being an ally and what it takes to speak up for what’s right when confronted with something truly wrong. Excellent for reading in a classroom or as part of a book club.” —Evonne Marzouck-The Jewish Press  “A good choice for fans of Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give and Nic Stone’s Dear Martin . ” — School Library Journal “This wise and nuanced novel has loving arms that, while hugging two teens who must confront a popular teacher, also can reach all those who are belittled and unheard.” —Thanhhà Lại, New York Times bestselling author of Inside Out & Back Again and Butterfly Yellow “A riveting, important , and thought-provoking read. Unputdownable and unforgettable.” —Leah Cypess, author of The Death Sworn series    “This fast-paced, compelling story will inspire readers to stick to their principles and fight for what’s right. A timely and necessary read. ” —Kip Wilson, author of White Rose “ Brave, breath-stealing and bold. A compelling and necessary read.” —Gae Polisner, author of The Memory of Things and Jack Kerouac Is Dead to Me “Readers won’t be able to resist putting themselves in the students’ shoes and thinking about when and where they themselves would draw the line, or if they would dare confront power at all.” —Nancy Werlin, author of The Rules of Survival “This fast-paced novel will keep readers thoroughly engaged. An important plot-driven story about two teens who stand up for what’s right in the face of adversity.” — Kirkus Reviews

Georgia Peach Book Award NOMINEE 2022

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The Assignment

Interview by alaina leary.

Book description: 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?

Instead of a review, we are posting an interview with the author of The Assignment , Liza Wiemer, by Alaina Leary at Diverse Books.org.

What did you learn from the research you did about racist and anti-Semitic school assignments? 

School assignments exploring important, complicated issues are a crucial part of education. They foster critical thinking and discussion. However, damaging, misguided, and thoughtless assignments dealing with those tough issues can be presented in racist or anti-Semitic ways and are much more common than people would think. Once news got out that I was writing this novel, people messaged me or told me directly about similar harmful assignments — some successfully challenged, some that were not. Those who remained silent did so for several reasons: fear of confrontation, retaliation, or being ostracized. They didn’t want to cause trouble or get a teacher in trouble. Students didn’t want to be seen as tattletales or complainers. But no one should ever have to defend the indefensible. No one should have to justify the unjustifiable. Speaking up is  hard. I heard from many who didn’t confront the issue that they regretted staying silent. We need to foster environments where upstanders are respected and feel safe to confront hatred and injustice. That’s why I feel having a novel like this is critical. It promotes discussion. It allows readers to contemplate what they would do if they found themselves in a similar situation and shows that courage comes from within. Continue reading.

5 Stars

Publisher's Synopsis: A SYDNEY TAYLOR NOTABLE BOOK Inspired by a real-life incident, this riveting novel explores discrimination and antisemitism and reveals their dangerous impact. Would you defend the indefensible? That's what seniors Logan March and Cade Crawford are asked to do when a favorite teacher instructs a group of students to argue for the Final Solution — the Nazi plan for the genocide of the Jewish people. Logan and Cade decide they must take a stand, and soon their actions draw the attention of the student body, the administration, and the community at large. But not everyone feels as Logan and Cade do — after all, isn't a school debate just a school debate? It's not long before the situation explodes, and acrimony and anger result. Based on true events, The Assignment asks: What does it take for tolerance, justice, and love to prevail? "An important look at a critical moment in history through a modern lens showcasing the power of student activism." — SLJ

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the assignment goodreads

Amadea Hofmann

Ya books in review: the assignment  .

The Assignment , Liza M. Wiemer , Delacorte Press, 336pp, 2020, £13.70 (hardback)

Liza M. Wiemer’s novel, The Assignment, is a frighteningly realistic portrayal of modern antisemitism in a small-town community that blurs the lines between past and present, fiction and reality. The novel is a fictionalised account of a real assignment that is given to students, which instructs them to debate the Final Solution, the Nazi’s plan for the genocide of the Jewish people. When students Logan March and Cade Crawford protest holding the debate, they clash with their classmates, the school administration, and the wider community. What follows is a powerful polemic against bigotry, discrimination, and antisemitism – a valuable reminder to stand up for one’s morals and beliefs, no matter how unpopular they seem.

‘History is one of our best teachers’, writes Wiemer. ‘Unfortunately, this assignment will show you that society hasn’t learned much at all.’ This sentiment becomes upsettingly clear when the reader hears from Holocaust survivors, who describe how antisemitism still plagues them almost 80 years later. This is particularly important considering that the target audience is a generation for whom the atrocities of the Second World War and its aftermath are no longer in living memory. The survivors’ harrowing accounts of their experiences in Nazi Germany help bridge this gap and give a human face to the atrocities amid a debate that elides emotion and dignity under the pretense of reason. The debate’s dismissal of human suffering results in inadvertently legitimising Nazi thought which comes to fuel hateful beliefs and intolerance among the student population.

In contrast to Logan and Cade’s outrage, their classmates and the school administration exhibit shockingly cavalier attitudes towards the debate. Wiemer deftly demonstrates how mentalities like these that give tacit approval have appalling, tangible ramifications. Before long the student body is alarmingly reminiscent of Hitler’s Germany, as students mimic Nazi salutes and call themselves ‘the Aryans’. The book explores how quickly herd mentality can lead to malicious intent. The Assignment does not explore its antisemitic characters in any great detail. This is no doubt deliberate, yet one wonders whether a more complex depiction of the characters’ inner lives – what drives the acceptance of such abhorrent, hateful beliefs – might contribute a better understanding of the root of this hostility.

But this is not Wiemer’s preoccupation. Rather, the overarching message is a timeless and important one. After Logan and Cade contact journalists to help promulgate their cause, they become the subject of online and real-life harassment. Despite this, they continue to advocate for their beliefs and question authority. During an era of burgeoning youth activism, this is a hugely empowering message for young adults, as the thought of confronting power in a classroom, for many, is a daunting one. Indeed, the reader is constantly challenged to envision themselves in the protagonists’ shoes, to reflect on how they would act—or if they would have the courage to act at all. The challenge is not a new one but is perhaps now more important than ever.

As the last of the survivor generation passes away, there is a growing chasm between younger generations and the horrific consequences of the Final Solution and its pernicious legacy. With antisemitic hate crimes on the rise, literature like The Assignment remains pertinent and vital in in combatting them. By examining the very human evil of Nazi Germany, in a contemporary context, Wiemer highlights the ease at which discrimination is readily normalised. Moreover, the protagonists’ inspiring persistence helps young readers understand their responsibility in holding others accountable and preventing history from repeating itself.

Words by Amadea Hofmann.

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Q&A With Liza Wiemer, The Assignment

August 25, 2020 by We Need Diverse Books

Q&A With Liza Wiemer, The Assignment

By Alaina Leary

Today we’re pleased to welcome Liza Wiemer to the WNDB blog to discuss her YA novel The Assignment , out August 25, 2020!

The Assignment by Liza Wiemer

What did you learn from the research you did about racist and antisemitic school assignments? 

School assignments exploring important, complicated issues are a crucial part of education. They foster critical thinking and discussion. However, damaging, misguided, and thoughtless assignments dealing with those tough issues can be presented in racist or antisemitic ways and are much more common than people would think. Once news got out that I was writing this novel, people messaged me or told me directly about similar harmful assignments—some successfully challenged, some that were not. Those who remained silent did so for several reasons: fear of confrontation, retaliation, or being ostracized. They didn’t want to cause trouble or get a teacher in trouble. Students didn’t want to be seen as tattletales or complainers. But no one should ever have to defend the indefensible. No one should have to justify the unjustifiable. Speaking up is hard. I heard from many who didn’t confront the issue that they regretted staying silent. We need to foster environments where upstanders are respected and feel safe to confront hatred and injustice. That’s why I feel having a novel like this is critical. It promotes discussion. It allows readers to contemplate what they would do if they found themselves in a similar situation and shows that courage comes from within.

Was there anything from your research that didn’t make it into  The Assignment ?

Yes, there was a lot of extensive historical research that didn’t make it into the novel. It would have bogged down the narrative or taken the story in too many different directions. 

One particular area of research I wanted to explore and incorporate in some way was the vile treatment of our American POWs by the Nazis. It’s not an area that’s often explored when learning about the Holocaust. The purpose of the Final Solution was to wipe out Europe’s eleven million Jews, but Nazi brutality extended beyond the Jewish population. 

So while I was reading about American World War II POWs, I came across the shocking story of Anthony Acevedo, a Mexican American combat medic in the United States Army, Infantry. He was one of 350 American soldiers captured during the Battle of the Bulge who were enslaved, starved, and tortured at Berga concentration camp because of ethnicity, skin color, or religion. He managed to keep a secret diary about their horrifying experience. 

Although I didn’t include this particular account, it’s important to know about this history. 

Check out the incredible testimony Mr. Acevedo gave for posterity to United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: Oral history interview with Anthony Acevedo. 

For a short interview, check out: “This POW kept a secret diary that showed daily life in a concentration camp.”  

Regrettably, I was unable to incorporate Gerda Weissman Klein’s remarkable and uplifting story that shows the power and resilience of the human spirit. She was a Holocaust survivor, author, and founder of Citizenship Counts. On February 15, 2011, President Barak Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest honor given to a civilian. Check out this deeply touching short video about her liberation by American solider, Kurt Klein, the man who eventually became her husband.

Although this book addresses an assignment about the Holocaust, this book is clearly set in the present. How can educators utilize this in their classrooms for Holocaust education?

The Assignment provides teachers and students with a strong foundation of historical information on the Holocaust that will be informative and enlightening to readers. It also shows the impact of antisemitism and all forms of hate have on society. The brave actions of Cade and Logan, the two teens in the novel who speak up against the hateful assignment, will evoke a lot of discussions, comparing the past to what we’re experiencing in today’s society. I do want to note that Logan, who is the first to react, is not Jewish.

Utilizing this book for Holocaust education is only one way it could be effectively used in classrooms. It can also be taught in English or social studies courses that focus on social justice, community, or world issues. It’s about empowering teens, providing many different examples for students to figure out how they would choose to address an injustice. This book lends itself to discussions on antisemitism, racism, anti-LGBTQIAP+, bullying, and what it takes to have the courage to be an upstander. I also wanted to show that seeking support from others within your school and/or your community is important and often not as challenging as one might imagine. There will be people who have your back!

There’s a powerful scene in the novel where community members come out and offer support to Cade’s family after their inn is vandalized. Why was that support pivotal for these teens and what did it mean for the community?

Before this moment, Cade and Logan received very little support from anyone at their school or community. After facing tremendous resistance and hateful acts, they had to draw upon strength from each other and from their families. But when the community came out, they no longer were isolated. This recognition made a statement against intolerance, antisemitism, bigotry, racism, and all forms of hate. Gathering together to protest and to show support is important, but it’s also just one step. During this rally, Cade gives a short speech expressing gratitude, but he also makes it clear that there is more work to be done. Deep-rooted bigoted belief systems need to be acknowledged, examined, and changed. That takes time, commitment, and hard work. We know about the importance of protesting and this novel shows it.

  What impact did writing this novel have on your own Jewish identity?

In “A Note From The Author,” I ask, “Can you be proud of your heritage, your faith, your identity, yet also have a strong need to protect or hide yourself from the outside world?” I love being Jewish and have spent my entire life active within the Jewish community, but in order to protect myself from horrible antisemitic attacks, which I experienced both as a child and an adult, I often chose not to expose this important part of my identity. Writing this book opened the door for me to examine this. Antisemitism has reached a 40-year high in the United States and it continues to rise. This experience made me realize that fear must not win. As Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace winner, Elie Wiesel said, “the world did know and remained silent. And that is why I swore never to be silent whenever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” 

Share a behind-the-scenes novel secret, something readers wouldn’t know just from picking up this book.

There is a protest scene to stop the debate. Others want it continued. When the protest gets out of hand, a secondary character starts singing “Hallelujah” and the crowd joins in. For me, it’s a goosebump moment. I listened and reviewed the lyrics of at least fifty songs before I found “Hallelujah” and realized how perfect it was for the scene. When the song ends, the girl who started it reveals something impactful about the song. People will have to read it to find out! Whenever I reread that section, it comes to life for me. I could see it happening today. 

  For one of my favorite “Hallelujah” performances, check out this YouTube video performed on Oprah by the Canadian Tenors with a surprise visit from Celine Dion.  

Are you a plotter or a panster? 

A mix, so a plantser. 

Before I start a novel, I have a general outline of the plot and I always begin a chapter thinking it through, talking to my characters, and planning out what I’m going to write. 

The pantser side comes out during bursts of inspiration. It’s usually when I’m so entrenched in the story that I’m nearly oblivious to what’s around me and I’m going with the flow, allowing the story to unfold. I love these moments because the unexpected usually makes the novel so much more interesting and engaging.

What other books do you think  The Assignment  is in conversation with? And do you have any recommendations for published or forthcoming YA novels?

I turn to the review from School Library Journal that said, “ A good choice for fans of Angie Thomas’s  The Hate U Give  and Nic Stone’s  Dear Martin. ” The correlation between The Assignment and these books I deeply admire is that they show the impact of hate, what it takes to be an upstander, and the strength needed to speak out against injustice, intolerance, bigotry, discrimination, racism, and hate. These books show ordinary teens who do something incredibly brave under circumstances they had no control over. They show that even though it’s hard, painful, and frightening to confront these issues, their voices matter, that teens can and must speak up against hatred.

Another book that The Assignment is compared to is The Wave by Todd Strasser, which was also based on a 1969 true incident that occurred in a Palo Alto, California high school history class. That novel shows how easy it is to be swept away into Fascist ideas and the destructive force it has on humanity.

What is one question you wish you were asked more often (and the answer)?

What advice would you give teens who don’t feel like they have a voice or are afraid to use it?

I grew up in a home where my voice was silenced. Even when I was right, I was told that I wrong, and arguing only got me into trouble. It’s a form of abuse when adults misuse their power or authority to try and silence teens. There are going to be people who come into your life or who are already in your life who’ll do everything they can to silence you. Always know that you are important, special, unique, beautiful just as you are. Do not let anyone steal your self-esteem with ugly words or actions. 

We know words have power and that people use them to knock others down. I personally know what this is like. But each one of us has a choice—we can either choose to lift others up or tear them down. Our words, our actions reflect on our most valuable possession and the only thing that we truly own, the only thing that we can truly control in this world is our name. Our name represents the lifetime collection of our words, actions, and deeds. Don’t allow others to tell you what to think or how to feel. Don’t allow others to define you. Listen. Learn. Seek out mentors you respect and who respect you. Read books that inspire you and help you to see yourself more clearly. And most of all, know that your voice matters. There are many ways to speak up. Find yours.  

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THE ASSIGNMENT

by Liza Wiemer ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 25, 2020

An important plot-driven story about two teens who stand up for what’s right in the face of adversity.

High school seniors and best friends Logan and Cade are asked to defend the indefensible as part of a history assignment; they refuse.

Logan and Cade are not Jewish, but when their history teacher, Mr. Bartley, gives them an assignment in which they are to take on the role of Nazis and reenact the Wannsee Conference of 1942, each taking a side of the “debate” about the Final Solution, they protest. This is not a debate at all but a dehumanizing discussion about the extermination of the Jewish people. Narrated from the perspectives of several different characters, the novel tells a fictionalized story based on the actions of two New York state teens who stood against their teacher, principal, and, eventually, their school district with the help of their families and community. Despite abrupt, sometimes confusing point-of-view switches and somewhat wordy prose, this fast-paced novel will keep readers thoroughly engaged and eager to learn the resolution, rooting for Logan and Cade the whole way. The book contains a small element of romance as well as some references to sexual assault and physical abuse. The book also depicts anti-Semitic actions and related hate crimes. Main characters are assumed to be cisgender, white, and straight. There is diversity among the secondary characters, including one queer character.

Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2020

ISBN: 978-0-593-12316-4

Page Count: 336

Publisher: Delacorte

Review Posted Online: May 31, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2020

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SCHOOL & FRIENDSHIP

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OUT AND ABOUT

BOOK REVIEW

by Liza Wiemer ; illustrated by Margeaux Lucas

IF ONLY I HAD TOLD HER

IF ONLY I HAD TOLD HER

by Laura Nowlin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 2024

A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.

In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me , three characters tell their sides of the story.

Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.

Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024

ISBN: 9781728276229

Page Count: 416

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE

More by Laura Nowlin

IF HE HAD BEEN WITH ME

by Laura Nowlin

IF HE HAD BEEN WITH ME

IF HE HAD BEEN WITH ME

by Laura Nowlin ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2013

There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.

The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.

Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.

Pub Date: April 1, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5

Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

IF ONLY I HAD TOLD HER

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Submitting a book for review, write the editor, you are here:, the assignment.

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THE DA VINCI CODE has spawned a mini-industry of exegesis and echoes --- even tours for beguiled readers. I've read Brown's book and even written a tongue-in-cheek research piece about some of the history involved in his mystery, and I'm here to tell you my honest opinion: THE ASSIGNMENT was more interesting, more honest and more fun to read.

Like Brown, Mark Andrew Olsen bases his book on a small, secretive Roman Catholic group: the Order of St. Lazare, comprised of just seven priests. Like Brown, Olsen's protagonist is faced with a seemingly insurmountable task that involves convincing others of an impossible premise. Like Brown, Olsen's book is fast-paced and has characters careening from the States to all corners of Europe --- and, in some cases, even further. And that points to one of the things that is different about Olsen's approach. First of all, he unabashedly includes the spiritual --- he even includes the mystical, and a lot of it!

But hang on for the ride, because even though his use of several different perspectives and forms of narration (including the protagonist's diaries) can get a little confusing, Olsen uses the chaos to allow readers' suspension of their disbelief. By the novel's end, you may not consciously subscribe to the idea of angels and demons (pace Dan Brown), but you'll be cheering the former on.

In fact, one of the most interesting things about Olsen's novel, for a CBA author, is that he has structured it more as a battle of good versus evil than a battle of Christian versus nonbeliever. Conversions happen, but they aren't necessarily the "born again" kind. While not all readers will agree with Olsen's scenarios or his theology, this non-preachy yet grounded style is both refreshing and thought-provoking. What does it mean to be both a Jew and a Christian believer? What does it mean to be an academic and a believer? What does it mean to be a Catholic as opposed to a Protestant? Through a cast of characters that includes a young American graduate student, a pair of CIA officers, a post-John Paul II Pope, Mossad agents and shadowy terrorists, Olsen raises these and more questions.

Thankfully, he doesn't attempt to answer them all nor does he leave the door open (funny, since the symbol of an open door is important to the Order involved) for what could have been endless sequels (spoiler alert: if you want to know what I'm getting at, take a look at the name of the Order again).

While I could go on and on about plot twists and turns, let me end by saying something else about this book that differentiates it from THE DA VINCI CODE: at the end of THE ASSIGNMENT, for its attendant flaws, I found myself moved --- both by the outcome and by the sense of this author's living faith in God.

Reviewed by Bethanne Kelly Patrick on July 1, 2004

the assignment goodreads

The Assignment by Mark Andrew Olsen

  • Publication Date: July 1, 2004
  • Genres: Christian , Suspense
  • Paperback: 464 pages
  • Publisher: Bethany House
  • ISBN-10: 076422817X
  • ISBN-13: 9780764228179

the assignment goodreads

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COMMENTS

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    From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone novel. Reasons why I should not be drawn to Troy Serrano. Number one: He's obnoxious. Number two: He and I were enemies over a decade ago in high school. Number three: He's my friend's ex-boyfriend. I could go on and on, really.

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    The Assignment OPTIONED FOR FILM: Screenplay Completed In the vein of the classic The Wave and inspired by a real-life incident, this riveting novel explores discrimination and antisemitism and reveals their dangerous impact. 2024 Lincoln Award Nominee 2022/2023 Georgia Book Award Nominee Free Little Library "Read in Color" Recommended Read

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    The Assignment OPTIONED FOR FILM: Screenplay Completed In the vein of the classic The Wave and inspired by a real-life incident, this riveting novel explores discrimination and antisemitism and reveals their dangerous impact. HONORS: 2024 Lincoln Award Nominee 2022/2023 Georgia Book Award Nominee Free Little Library "Read in Color" Recommended Read

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    Liza Wiemer is an award-winning educator with over twenty years of experience. She is the author of two adult nonfiction books, as well as a young adult novel. She lives in Milwaukee with her family. Visit her at LizaWiemer.com and…. More about Liza Wiemer. Paperback | $12.99 | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4| ISBN 9780593123195.

  7. The Assignment

    The Assignment By Liza Wiemer Delacorte Press 336 pp. Reviewed by Caroline Bock October 9, 2020 Would you emulate a Nazi if the teacher told you to? Would your friends? This is your assignment: Read The Assignment by Liza Wiemer. More importantly, have your teenagers and their teachers read it.

  8. The Assignment

    The Assignment - Author Liza Wiemer - Random House Children's Books. Inspired by a real-life incident, this riveting novel explores the dangerous impact discrimination and antisemitism have on one community when a school assignment goes terribly wrong. Would you defend the indefensible?

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    The Assignment by Liza Wiemer Published by Random House Children's Books on August 31, 2021 Genres: Education, Jewish, War, World History Pages: 336 Reading Level: High School ISBN: 9780593123195 Review Source: Diverse Books.org Publisher's Synopsis: A SYDNEY TAYLOR NOTABLE BOOK

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    The Assignment, Liza M. Wiemer, Delacorte Press, 336pp, 2020, £13.70 (hardback) Liza M. Wiemer's novel, The Assignment, is a frighteningly realistic portrayal of modern antisemitism in a small-town community that blurs the lines between past and present, fiction and reality. The novel is a fictionalised account of a real assignment that is ...

  11. The Assignment

    The Assignment Liza Wiemer Random House Children's Books, Aug 31, 2021 - Young Adult Fiction - 336 pages Inspired by a real-life incident, this riveting novel explores the dangerous impact...

  12. The Story Behind THE ASSIGNMENT

    The Story Behind THE ASSIGNMENT On July 25, 2016, I received a message on Facebook from librarian Wendy Watts Scalfaro asking if I would be interested in coming to her Syracuse-area high school to conduct workshops about my YA novel, Hello?. It's important that I mention that Wendy and I had never met in person.

  13. The Assignment Kindle Edition

    The Assignment Kindle Edition by Penelope Ward (Author), Jessica Royer Ocken (Editor) Format: Kindle Edition 4.3 2,916 ratings See all formats and editions Kindle $4.99 Read with our free app Audiobook $0.00 Free with your Audible trial Hardcover $14.41 9 Used from $13.13 8 New from $14.41 Paperback $14.99 13 Used from $5.49 10 New from $10.70

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    A SYDNEY TAYLOR NOTABLE BOOK Inspired by a real-life incident, this riveting novel explores discrimination and antisemitism and reveals their dangerous impact.Would you defend the indefensible?That's what seniors Logan March and Cade Crawford are asked to do when a favorite teacher instructs a group of students to argue for the Final Solution--the Nazi plan for the genocide of the Jewish people.

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    The Assignment Kindle Edition by Liza Wiemer (Author) Format: Kindle Edition 4.6 252 ratings See all formats and editions A SYDNEY TAYLOR NOTABLE BOOK Inspired by a real-life incident, this riveting novel explores discrimination and antisemitism and reveals their dangerous impact.

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    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.

  17. THE ASSIGNMENT

    THE ASSIGNMENT by Liza Wiemer ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 25, 2020 An important plot-driven story about two teens who stand up for what's right in the face of adversity. bookshelf shop now High school seniors and best friends Logan and Cade are asked to defend the indefensible as part of a history assignment; they refuse.

  18. The Assignment

    The Assignment. by Mark Andrew Olsen. THE DA VINCI CODE has spawned a mini-industry of exegesis and echoes --- even tours for beguiled readers. I've read Brown's book and even written a tongue-in-cheek research piece about some of the history involved in his mystery, and I'm here to tell you my honest opinion: THE ASSIGNMENT was more ...

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    The Ex Assignment Victoria Paige 3.95 3,278 ratings300 reviews Seventeen years of buried secrets and a divorce stood between them. It started with her estranged father's murder. The last thing LA detective Gabby Woodward needed was the custody of her entitled half-brother. She was jaded and overworked. A nurturing soul she was not.

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    Kindle $9.99 Rate this book The Class Assignment Is Murder Carolyn Kleinman 3.50 10 ratings8 reviews People are murdered everywhere. Hannah Stein, however, had been told that Parkerville, a small town in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, was an exception, a safe, peaceful place.