He says, “We only need to look to Sudan and Myanmar, to name just a few nations, to understand that genocide is not history. It’s a part of our modern society. We can turn to China and the reports of concentration camps holding up to a million Uighur Muslims. What is the excuse for this inhumanity? Power and politics!

“So, for this assignment only, I want you to walk in the footsteps of Nazis to gain insight into the Final Solution and their justifications for genocide. I look forward to reading your personal perspectives for your side of the debate and your point of view on the Holocaust in your papers.”

When Dad and I lived in Milwaukee, we had Jewish neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. Simon treated me like another grandchild—babysitting whenever Dad’s sister, Aunt Ava, couldn’t, reading books to me, and bringing me birthday presents. Every time I saw Mr. Simon in our apartment building, he’d greet me with “Howdo, howdo? How’s the sweetest girl on our floor today?”

They had a granddaughter my age, and whenever Gayle came to visit, the Simons always invited me over. During Hanukkah, Gayle taught my cousin Blair and me how to play a game with a four-sided spinning top called a dreidel. I cried when the Simons moved to California to be closer to Gayle. To this day, I miss them. I can’t imagine anyone ever wanting to hurt the Simons for any reason, let alone because they’re Jewish.

To my knowledge, no one in our school is Jewish, and I don’t think there are any Jews in our town. But what if there were?

The sound of drumming fingers draws me out of my head. Mason’s looking at me. He stops tapping his notebook. His other hand rests on his thigh, clenched in a fist. For a split second I wonder if he, too, is appalled by this assignment. But no. His gaze shifts to the clock, then settles on Kerrianne. Of course. He’s probably counting the seconds until he can get his hands on her.

She is doodling in her notebook. Ugh. Hearts and stars when Mr. Bartley’s talking genocide.

Cade catches my attention, flashes his notebook. “U ok?”

I feel ill. But Cade’s concern helps make it bearable. I answer him with a nod.

Chapter 4: Mason Hayes

Mason notices Logan fidgeting in her seat and scowling, especially after his hockey teammates, Jesse and Spencer, stand and give the Nazi salute. Their actions are a violation of their team’s code of conduct—all members must refrain from disparaging or disrespecting others—and it bothers Mason. To his relief, Mr. Bartley calls them out on it, puts them in their place.

Hell, as captain, he’s tried.