The book demonstrates man's inhumanity to man. The BOOK does not go against Christ...what people did to other people goes against Christ. Being "afraid" to read this book simply condones people putting their heads in the sand, pretending that these horrid things did not happen. They did happen............and I think our children SHOULD know just how cruel people can be. Also...it is never too late to pray for the lives that were taken in the past, the families destroyed. How can that be anti Christ?

Sixteen is certainly old enough to read the book. Our school district has all freshmen in high school read Night. The importance of reading about the Holocaust is to make sure that something like that does not happen again. You may want to follow up her reading with a discussion about why you felt she should read the book and how your religion would never condone what the Nazis did.

I read Night and was given the perfect opportunity to pass this on to a 14 year old who made an off color joke about jews in concentration camps. I said if he knew what had happened, the joke would not be funny.
Teaching a child what is good taste and bad taste is hard. Their world is smaller and they just don't get it.
He read the book, he said it was heavy reading and he had to put it down at times to get through it but that let me know, He got it! I will never have to say again to him why making fun of something you don't understand may not be funny to everyone.
What a powerful message is contained in this small book. When we can humanize the inhumanities against man, we can see there has to be a better way. I think that is very christian.

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I would recommend every
child over 14 to read this book. After I read this book I have
realized how human beings can be cruel to each other.

This book is a
excellent way to teach children compassion. In today's world the way
how humanity behaves anything is possible.

While I was reading I
could experience the pain of the writer. Is very touching and sad.

Everyone should know. My 8 year old has read Number the Stars, and the Diary of Ann Frank. It is important for children to learn history.

Night to me was about the power of mankind. It can destroy but it can also persevere through anything.

Good book!

How could it possibly go against Christian teachings?The holocaust would have been against Christian teachings! Jesus would never have allowed/wanted it to happen-WWJD! He would have been appalled that nobody stopped it. Closing our eyes and acting as though it never happened, not trying to change the world, not trying to stop the present day holocausts is what is unchristian.

I don't think religion should matter with this book. It's a true story. Whether or not it's against any religion, which I don't think it necessarily is, it's reality and history. Haven't you ever heard of "if you don't know the past your doomed to repeat it"?

I definitely do not agree. I read Night as an English project for my 11th grade Honors Class. We all entered Oprah's contest, and read it together. It was awesome. Eye opening, and definitely awe-inspiring. It was a complete turn around for my life. I think that if I had not read it, not only would I have failed the class, but I would not be who I am today. That book has definitely changed my life. It stays in my car, and if anybody wonders about a book to read, this is the first I hand out.
Now mind you, I attended a school with approximately 430 kids (total). Probably 80% of them had read the book. Only 30 kids were required to read it (my class) but word got around that it was so good, and it exploded. There are still kids reading it today. In fact, I just attended a study group they have created due to reading the book...

If that doesnt help, I dont know what will...

I don't agree with your ex at all. 16 is a perfect age to begin understanding triumph, resiliency, love and hatred. I began reading many books, including some by this author by the time I was 8, by choice. I believe all of them helped to shape me into the empathetic person I am today. We can't teach children not to hate until we show them what hate really is. I'm one "of those" parents who allowed younger kids (10 and up) to view The Passion of the Christ, so you can discredit my discernment if that bothers you. I believe our children today are much too sheltered, (they could never survive what the subjects in these books had to with the way American society raises our kids today) and I believe they're a shallow lot BECAUSE they are sheltered. I have seen this to be true as a military family who has moved about this country, and how hate has affected our family for being "outsiders" who didn't subscribe to local traditions long rooted in hate. Children can not know unless they see and experience a little for themselves and in my opinion, giving them an opportunity through literature is a much safer and controlled environment to do that in.
By the time our kids were in 5th grade, they had visited the Museum of Tolerance and had read Anne Frank.
Other books to check out are
The Hiding Place
A Time to Speak
Schindler's List (biographies of the people he saved)
The Stolen Years
And of course, Elie is one of my favorites.

I agree with what everyone has said. I went to a public high
school, and “Night” was a required book to read in the 10^th grade. Not learning history, or to tolerate the
beliefs/religion of others, separates humanity in general. To not read books on topics that might be foreign,
or different from our own beliefs just breeds more ignorance in the world… and
ignorance breeds hate… and hate is sinful.
If every human in the world had the opportunity to be educated and read
historical books such as “Night,” there would be more peace. I think the best thing a parent can do, is expose them to as many aspects of our history as possible, even if it might be contreversial. Night teaches us about the value of life... that is a wonderful lesson for any teenager.