21FA-LS-5653 - International Literature: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Bibliography:
Zusak, Markus. 2005. The Book Thief. Sydney, Australia: Picador. ISBN: 9780375831003
Plot Summary:In 1939, Nazi Germany is at large during World War II. Death is collecting souls while Liesel Meminger and her brother travel to their new foster parents' house. Liesel's brother is tragically met with an early demise along the train ride, ascending Liesel into a spiral of nightmares and book thievery. She steals her first novel, The Gravedigger's Handbook, at her brother's graveside despite not knowing how to read. This first account of stealing books begins Liesel's passion for stories, words, reading, and writing. With the help of her new foster father, a painter and war veteran who plays the accordion, Liesel learns to read and soon becomes the voice and narrator for her community. However, Liesel and her family soon risk their lives by secretly hiding a young Jewish man in their basement to protect him from Hitler's persecutions. Amidst the war, Liesel must learn the importance of being an ally, which is the greatest risk of all.
Critical Analysis:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is an instant classic coming-of-age novel that everyone should read at least once, if not multiple times. The story is narrated by the character of Death, providing a unique perspective on the millions of lives lost during World War II. The characters are authentic portrayals of German and Jewish people from the early 1940s time period. I found Liesel's friendship with Rudy Steiner timeless and memorable. I was also rooting for the young Jewish man, Max Vandenburg, and holding my breath in anticipation of his survival. Liesel and Max's friendship is so heartwarming that readers will suspect them to marry each other by the end. Readers will find charming characteristics in Hans and Rosa Hubermann, Liesel's foster parents. Hans is the loving father every reader will relate to their own parent, while Rosa is the mother nobody would want to cross or provoke. The characters also reflect distinct cultural experiences, especially socioeconomic statuses, as Zusak creates realistic oppositions of the poor Hubermanns and the wealthy mayor's wife.
Additionally, Markus Zusak builds a representational fictional setting in Molching, Germany, which is consistent with the historical WWII era. Zusak includes factual evidence of the time, such as the real-life events of the 1936 Olympics and four-time winning gold medalist Jesse Owens. Readers will feel as if they had traveled back to 1939 Germany when values and beliefs of the time consisted of Hitler's rule, book burnings, Hitler Youth divisions, and more. The German language and translations are notably incorporated throughout the novel as well. For example, characters refer to each other as "Frau" and "Herr," which is the equivalent of Mrs. and Mr. in English. Readers do not have to be fluent in German to understand the story either, as Zusak takes exceptional care to make the translations easy to comprehend.
Overall, The Book Thief invites readers to reflect and analyze the triumphs and tragedies of the German and Jewish people during WWII under Hitler's reign. The novel authentically depicts German cultures and values of the period, which appears as quality and thoroughly researched storytelling by Markus Zusak. The addition of hand-drawn illustrations emphasizes elements of the plot and constructs an engaging format for the narrative. The short chapters also make this 500-page book easy to read, which readers will fly through. The narration from Death, language translations, and German perspective make an enticing fictional history based on actual events. I recommend this novel to children ages 10 and up and anyone learning about WWII, The Holocaust, and Nazi Germany.
Awards & Reviews:
- 2006 Association of Jewish Libraries for Teen Book Award
- 2006 National Jewish Book Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature
- 2007 Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Children's Literature
- 2007 Exclusive Books Boeke Prize
- 2007 Sydney Taylor Book Award for Teen Readers
- 2008 Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA) Nominee for Literary Fiction
- 2008 Buxtehuder Bulle Award
- 2010 Lincoln Award Nominee
- 2014 Margaret A. Edwards Award
From Publisher's Weekly, "This hefty volume is an achievement...a challenging book in both length and subject..."
From School Library Journal, "An extraordinary narrative."
From The Horn Book Magazine, "Exquisitely written and memorably populated, Zusak's poignant tribute to words, survival, and their curiously inevitable entwinement is a tour de force to be not just read but inhabited."
Connections:
Activity and Discussion: The Holocaust was a detrimental event in history during WWII that affected millions of people worldwide. For patrons interested in learning more about The Holocaust and WWII, provide these resources to hear testimonials from Holocaust survivors, watch videos about the history of WWII, and virtually travel to The Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. Afterward, ask patrons to discuss what they discovered and reflect on how they feel about it:
- Holocaust Survivors at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum; located in Washington, D.C.
- Student Resources from The National WWII Museum; located in New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Education Resources at the Anne Frank House & Virtual Tours of the Anne Frank House and Secret Annex; located in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
If patrons enjoyed The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, introduce them to similar children and YA novels about World War II, such as:
- Boyne, John. 2006. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. ISBN: 9780857533937
- Frank, Anne. 1947. The Diary of a Young Girl. ISBN: 9780670874811
- Lowry, Lois. 1989. Number the Stars. ISBN: 9780440227533
- Sepetys, Ruta. 2011. Between Shades of Gray. ISBN: 9780399254123
Patrons might also enjoy these novels by Markus Zusak:
- Zusak, Markus. 2002. I Am the Messenger. ISBN: 9780756970345
- Zusak, Markus. 2018. Bridge of Clay. ISBN: 9780385614290