The Book Thief

Citation: Zusak, Markus. The Book Theif. New York:Random House, 2006

Ages: 14 and up

Genre: Historical Fiction

Theme: Holocaust, Survival, Power of Words, Friendship, Loyalty, Help One Another

Main Character: Liesel Meminger, Hans and Rosa Huberman, Rudy, Max

Plot Summary:

The Book Thief is about a young girl named Liesel who is taken from her mother and handed over to a couple living near Munich, Germany during the years during World War II. The Book Thief is about the many trials of Liesel's life and how she learns to deal with them. First getting used to living in a new home with an overbearing foster mother to finding enough food to feed herself and survive. Soon after moving into her new home, Hans, her foster father begins teaching Liesel to read and she soon learns the power of words. She can not get enough and begins stealing books to satisfy her need to read. Friends such as her neighbor Rudy, the Jewish man living in her basement, Max, and her foster father are the only things making it possible for Liesel to survive these harsh times. The Book Thief describes the horrors of war and what people will do to survive in terrible conditions.

Writing Style:

The Book Thief is told from Death's perspectives. He describes the lives he sees unfolding before him. It gives a strange twist to the story and gives a unique perspective to the novel.

Assessment of Quality and Utility:

The Book Thief is a terrific book that makes the horrors of war and the joy of friendship vivid for the reader. It shows how the power of words can help a person survive and deal with the unfathomable. The Book Thief also teaches the reader about friendship and loyalty even in the face of death. Liesel's life comes alive on the pages of the book and a young reader would have no trouble identifying with her.

The Book Thief is a great book to use in Social Studies units about World War II and the Holocaust. It can really show students the horrors of war and the horrible events that those living in Germany had to endure during the war. It would also be a great book for an English class to read to speak about the power of words and how it could help a person through troubling times.