Why should young adults read Holocaust literature anyway?

Abstract

Young people continue to read Holocaust literature more than fifty years after the events took place. Why does this literature still hold such fascination for many adolescents? This article examines important developmental tasks of adolescents; achieving independence, coming to terms with their bodies, establishing new relationships with age mates of both genders, gaining social and economic status, and acquiring self‐confidence and a system of values. The author discusses three types of Holocaust literature, historical fiction, memoirs, and diaries, and relates the developmental tasks to themes in the literature.