Telepathy, Telekinesis, and Telophase Grace Guernsey and Louise Imber

In their first and only podcast episode, Louise and Grace take on Holocaust literature, engaging in a discussion in which they have all of the questions and none of the answers. Speaking from their personal experiences reading Holocaust literature, they dichotomize the genre further into diaries (The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank), memoirs (Night by Elie Wiesel), and historical fiction—both young adult and adult (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe, and Number the Stars by Lois Lowry). Using these critically-acclaimed works of literature as guides, the pair dives into the question “What gives authors the authority to write about the Holocaust?”

Grace and Louise also seek the perspectives of educators more nuanced on the subject. First, they speak with Mrs. Hudson, an English teacher, to understand the broad range of Holocaust literature and ponder authorial authority from a literature-based perspective. Then, they discuss Holocaust literature and investigate the broader context of the Holocaust and its significance presently with history teacher Mr. Jones. With unguarded, genuine curiosity, Grace and Louise attempt to grapple with rationalizing the byproducts of an irrational, harrowing period of history of which its effects continue to plague our world today and challenge us to do and be better in every regard.