Absolutely. It's really hard to write about something that didn't interest you. Classes often read a book together, I think this makes it easier for the teacher to have all the reports on the same book.
But if you can, choosing your own book would be lots better!
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.