So Night by Elie Wiesel, an autobiographical novel about the Holocaust is the book that’s “mandatory reading for every person on the planet.” I must admit that although I’ve heard of Elie Wiesel, I’ve never read any of his work. Dancer Daughter read Night last year for a class, and if I remember correctly, she didn’t care for it too much. Anyway, MMV says she’s with Oprah on this one, so maybe I should add Night to THE LIST.

Here’s the web address for more information on Oprah’s National High School Essay Contest and the official entry form. There’s some question about whether the contest is open to homeschooled teens, but I say go ahead and read, write down your thoughts, and send them in. Worst case scenario, you learn something and don’t get to be considered for the contest.