The Assignment, by Liza Wiemer, (to be released on August 25th in the US) is a YA novel about a controversial, unethical classroom project, in which students are expected to step into the mindset of Nazis, purportedly to help them understand the dangers of fascism. The book is a page turner, with a number of twists and turns: never predictable, it pivots and reels you into the next set of rapids. One theme the book explores in a deep and profound way is how racism, antisemitism, and intolerance are deeply isolating experiences - not only for those victimized by it, but also for people floundering in its waves. The book traces the deepening friendship between Cade and Logan, two students who find themselves having to navigate the narrows of the assignment. Each is in danger of drowning as the teacher’s expectations run contrary to their own inner compass. As the two grow closer, however, they discover that they are able to strengthen and encourage each other - not only to weather the suffering they experience as a result of their deteriorating school environment, but also to fight for the values they feel in their hearts. The Assignment depicts the ways that morality and ethics can form one of the layers of a deep friendship - and even better, a potentially budding romance. In that sense, The Assignment challenges the notion that love or friendship is about what you do, what you like, or how you look: it’s about who you are, your roots, and how you grow.