Bibliographic Data: Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. Print. 9780375831003
Plot Summary:
Liesel Meminger, the “Book Thief”, is so fascinating that she caught the attention of death itself. Death, who narrates this book, tells of Liesel’s life, from early abandonment, the occupation of Nazis in Germany, forging a relationship with adoptive parents, friendships with unlikely characters, deaths (way too many), and the eventual loss of everything beloved to her once and for all.
Critical Analysis:
The Book Thief is written with such passion, wit, and raw emotion that it is impossible not to be moved by this novel. From the first words of the stories narrator, Death, I was hooked. Zusak was able to do what I thought would be impossible when reading the reviews of this novel; he made me like the character of Death. Death is presented as apologetic, observant, and with an empathetic and artistic heart. He feels for many of the souls in which he carts off, as well as for their families, and is so struck by the job he performs that he remembers the moment of soul-stealing to the exact temperature and sky color. It is this attention to detail that makes Death’s account of Liesel so real, and so moving.
Liesel is dealt a tough hand from the very onset of the novel. While on a train to her future foster parents home, her young brother dies in her mother’s arms. Her mother leaves her with her new family, and the foster mother is a nightmare. She is humiliated when she cannot read in school, and finally stands up for herself, beating up the bullies. Death tells her story chronologically, and as the years progress throughout the novel, so to, does Liesel. She grows strong, literate, stubborn, and clever. She is full of love for her foster father (Hans), and learns to be empathetic towards her foster mother (Rosa), even if she does hate having to eat her pea soup.
While Zusak weaves a beautiful and tragic story of this young girl, he also embeds a desolate setting. From Nazis, Hitler, book burnings, famine, jew-hating/torturing/killing/hiding, patriotism, war, starvation, thievery, broken hearts, and loyalty, Zusak writes a powerful story of WWII, but moreso, of a young girl growing up and refusing to be stunted by tragedy.
I loved this book. When I would have to leave my home to run errands and put it down I would immediately click on my audible ap and listen to the sweet voice of Allan Corduner narrating. It is a must read.
Awards:
• 2006: Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book (South East Asia & South Pacific)
• 2006: School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
• 2006: Daniel Elliott Peace Award
• 2006: Publishers Weekly Best Children Book of the Year
• 2006: Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book[3]
• 2007: Michael L. Printz AwardMichael L. Printz Honor Book[4] The Printz award is given to the best book for teens, based only on the quality of the writing.
Review:
KIRKUS REVIEW- When Death tells a story, you pay attention. Liesel Meminger is a young girl growing up outside of Munich in Nazi Germany, and Death tells her story as “an attempt—a flying jump of an attempt—to prove to me that you, and your human existence, are worth it.” When her foster father helps her learn to read and she discovers the power of words, Liesel begins stealing books from Nazi book burnings and the mayor’s wife’s library. As she becomes a better reader, she becomes a writer, writing a book about her life in such a miserable time. Liesel’s experiences move Death to say, “I am haunted by humans.” How could the human race be “so ugly and so glorious” at the same time? This big, expansive novel is a leisurely working out of fate, of seemingly chance encounters and events that ultimately touch, like dominoes as they collide. The writing is elegant, philosophical and moving. Even at its length, it’s a work to read slowly and savor. Beautiful and important. (Fiction. 12+)
Connections:
This story, like the other two reviewed, would be perfectly matched with a lecture or block on WWII. It is very approachable, and a quick read.
Readers that favored the book can also watch the film adaptation, titled the same, and released in 2013.
Plot Summary:
Liesel Meminger, the “Book Thief”, is so fascinating that she caught the attention of death itself. Death, who narrates this book, tells of Liesel’s life, from early abandonment, the occupation of Nazis in Germany, forging a relationship with adoptive parents, friendships with unlikely characters, deaths (way too many), and the eventual loss of everything beloved to her once and for all.
Critical Analysis:
The Book Thief is written with such passion, wit, and raw emotion that it is impossible not to be moved by this novel. From the first words of the stories narrator, Death, I was hooked. Zusak was able to do what I thought would be impossible when reading the reviews of this novel; he made me like the character of Death. Death is presented as apologetic, observant, and with an empathetic and artistic heart. He feels for many of the souls in which he carts off, as well as for their families, and is so struck by the job he performs that he remembers the moment of soul-stealing to the exact temperature and sky color. It is this attention to detail that makes Death’s account of Liesel so real, and so moving.
Liesel is dealt a tough hand from the very onset of the novel. While on a train to her future foster parents home, her young brother dies in her mother’s arms. Her mother leaves her with her new family, and the foster mother is a nightmare. She is humiliated when she cannot read in school, and finally stands up for herself, beating up the bullies. Death tells her story chronologically, and as the years progress throughout the novel, so to, does Liesel. She grows strong, literate, stubborn, and clever. She is full of love for her foster father (Hans), and learns to be empathetic towards her foster mother (Rosa), even if she does hate having to eat her pea soup.
While Zusak weaves a beautiful and tragic story of this young girl, he also embeds a desolate setting. From Nazis, Hitler, book burnings, famine, jew-hating/torturing/killing/hiding, patriotism, war, starvation, thievery, broken hearts, and loyalty, Zusak writes a powerful story of WWII, but moreso, of a young girl growing up and refusing to be stunted by tragedy.
I loved this book. When I would have to leave my home to run errands and put it down I would immediately click on my audible ap and listen to the sweet voice of Allan Corduner narrating. It is a must read.
Awards:
• 2006: Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book (South East Asia & South Pacific)
• 2006: School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
• 2006: Daniel Elliott Peace Award
• 2006: Publishers Weekly Best Children Book of the Year
• 2006: Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book[3]
• 2007: Michael L. Printz AwardMichael L. Printz Honor Book[4] The Printz award is given to the best book for teens, based only on the quality of the writing.
Review:
KIRKUS REVIEW- When Death tells a story, you pay attention. Liesel Meminger is a young girl growing up outside of Munich in Nazi Germany, and Death tells her story as “an attempt—a flying jump of an attempt—to prove to me that you, and your human existence, are worth it.” When her foster father helps her learn to read and she discovers the power of words, Liesel begins stealing books from Nazi book burnings and the mayor’s wife’s library. As she becomes a better reader, she becomes a writer, writing a book about her life in such a miserable time. Liesel’s experiences move Death to say, “I am haunted by humans.” How could the human race be “so ugly and so glorious” at the same time? This big, expansive novel is a leisurely working out of fate, of seemingly chance encounters and events that ultimately touch, like dominoes as they collide. The writing is elegant, philosophical and moving. Even at its length, it’s a work to read slowly and savor. Beautiful and important. (Fiction. 12+)
Connections:
This story, like the other two reviewed, would be perfectly matched with a lecture or block on WWII. It is very approachable, and a quick read.
Readers that favored the book can also watch the film adaptation, titled the same, and released in 2013.