This series started as WEB NOVEL, which then publicized commercially as LIGHT NOVEL, afterwards the light novel is adapted into ANIME and MANGA. By that reasoning, the Light Novel is the original form of this series, and trust me, it is really good, much better than the manga. I have already read until volume 11, the english translation is available at baka-tsuki.
You can find epub, pdf, mobi download in the forum.
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.