I think it is very important to realize this is the first novel Wiesel wrote; being the second book of the trilogy can be misleading. I have found that this novel is taught often at a very young age, like 7th grade, and I feel that teaching or rather attempting to teach this novel as such a young age it doing it a huge disservice. This novel requires a morality discussion that is beyond a middle school students capacity.
I agree, I'm reading Dawn for my sophmore english class and most of its way over my head.