Is XML Serialization really different from XML databinding, and if so, how?

No, there is a very important conceptual difference here, like you mention. It may be that implementations have strong similarities, and maybe that causes confusion, but conceptually it is not that unclear.

Libraries such as XStream offer XML Serialization (rather than XML document processing) so that object graphs can use standard Java serialization semantics to save/restore.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.