Module 10: The Book Thief

Bibliography:

Zusak, M. (2006). The book thief. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf

Book Summary:

Narrated by Death, this story is about a brave girl named Liesel in World War II. Death gives us a look into the Liesel's story at pivotal points in her life. The story begins with the death of her brother, and the very first book she steals from his grave digger. Her love of the written word is dangerous, because books are being burned everywhere. With the help of her family, she steals books to help keep herself and others in hiding entertained with stories. Throughout the book she becomes a better reader, and begins to write her own story down. If you want to know how the story ends....read it! I'm not even about to ruin the ending of this amazing book. 

My Thoughts:

My little brother has been trying for a long time to get me to read this book, and it definitely was worth the read. It was though, a bit hard for me to follow. Once I got used to the style in which it was written, it was much easier to follow. I thought it was very cool that the book was narrated by Death, and that the book really conveyed the power of the written word. Being brave in a time of war, especially when it goes against the law is extremely admirable. I'm not sure I could show the same kind of gumption in the face of danger. 

 

Professional Reviews:

*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. His promise to repay that debt comes due when the man's son, Max, shows up on his doorstep. This "small story," as Death calls it, threads together gem-like scenes of the fates of families in this tight community, and is punctuated by Max's affecting, primitive artwork rendered on painted-over pages from Mein Kampf . Death also directly addresses readers in frequent asides; Zusak's playfulness with language leavens the horror and makes the theme even more resonant—words can save your life. As a storyteller, Death has a bad habit of forecasting ("I'm spoiling the ending," he admits halfway through his tale). It's a measure of how successfully Zusak has humanized these characters that even though we know they are doomed, it's no less devastating when Death finally reaches them. Ages 12-up

(30, January 2006). [Review of the book The book thief by Markus Zusak]. Publisher's Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-375-83100-3

*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+)

(14, March 2006). [Review of the book The book thief by Markus Zusak]. Kirkus Review. Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/markus-zusak/the-book-thief/#review

Suggested Activities:

This book is such a complex story, that having a discussion group for it is almost necessary for the young adults that this book is appropriate for. Once they discover how it ends, I would have them write their own story down from death's perspective, and share them with each other. 

Image Link:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8f/The_Book_Thief_by_Markus_Zusak_book_cover.jpg/200px-The_Book_Thief_by_Markus_Zusak_book_cover.jpg