Book Summary -
Narrated by Death, the book follows a young girl who goes to live with foster parents during World War II in Germany. On the way there, Liesel's brother dies. As he's being buried, Liesel steals her first book from the gravedigger as a remembrance of her brother. She helps deliver laundry for her foster mother and learns how to read from her foster father. She steals books from the mayor's house, and spends time with the Jew who is hiding in the basement. She writes her own stories and titles them The Book Thief. Max, the Jew who was hiding in the house, is sent off for his own protection, but is later found by the Nazis. Liesel's friend Rudy always wants a kiss from her, but only gets it after the whole block is destroyed and Liesel is the only remaining survivor because she hid in the basement. she later reunites with Max. As Death was working overtime in this period, he only comes for Liesel later in her life as she is living in Sydney. He found her thought to be lost book, has read it, and admits that humans haunt him.
APA Reference -
Zusak, M. (2006). The book thief. New York: Knopf.
My Impressions -
I had been wanting to read this book for some time after I saw some of my students reading it. It certainly was worth it. It really is a haunting look at a girl and those around her who are trying to survive in a world where few do. By having Death be the main narrator, there is a unique look at humans and what makes them human. By Death admitting that he is haunted by humans, Zusak makes the point that humans are capable of ultimate cruelty and evil. This is a very haunting book. It is not necessarily unique in the subject matter, a person trying to live despite war, but it is unique in the literary devices that he uses. It is a must read in my opinion.
Professional Review -
This hefty volume is an achievement--a challenging book in both length and subject, and best suited to sophisticated older readers. The narrator is Death himself, a companionable if sarcastic fellow, who travels the globe "handing souls to the conveyor belt of eternity." Death keeps plenty busy during the course of this WWII tale, even though Zusak (I Am the Messenger) works in miniature, focusing on the lives of ordinary Germans in a small town outside Munich. Liesel Meminger, the book thief, is nine when she pockets The Gravedigger's Handbook, found in a snowy cemetery after her little brother's funeral. Liesel's father--a "Kommunist"--is already missing when her mother hands her into the care of the Hubermanns. Rosa Hubermann has a sharp tongue, but Hans has eyes "made of kindness." He helps Liesel overcome her nightmares by teaching her to read late at night. Hans is haunted himself, by the Jewish soldier who saved his life during WWI.
The Book Thief. (2006). Publishers Weekly,
253(5), 70-71.
Library Uses -
This book would be a great spotlighted historical ficiton book. Because its narrator is Death, many students would probably be drawn to it. It would be a great lesson to have the students explain how the book might have been different had the narrator not been Death.
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