The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

ISBN: 9780375831003
Publisher: Knopf Books (2005)
559 p.

Reading Level: 9^th grade and above.

Summary:

In 1939 Nazi Germany, there lives a young girl named Liesel. On a trip with her mother and brother to her foster parents, while the mother tends to her health, her little brother dies. As he’s being buried, a book falls out of the pocket of one of the gravediggers. The book is The Grave Digger's Handbook, and thus begins Liesel’s obsession with books and reading, although she has yet to know how to read.

She ends up with Hans and Rosa Huberman. Rosa is a robust, loud, and menacing figure who loves Liesel, while Hans is a quiet, gentle soul who appreciates Liesel’s interest in books. During her life with the couple, Hans slowly, but surely teaches her to read, and Liesel continues to steal books from the mayor’s wife and from Nazi book burnings. One of the most important story arcs involves the Huberman’s hiding Max, a Jewish fist-fighter from the horrors of the concentration camps. One of the most unique facets of this novel is that it is narrated by Death who comments on the state of humanity throughout the novel.

Critical Evaluation:

There are certain writing styles used in this novel that are rarely seen. The reader is alerted to what will be in each chapter by the title of the chapter and the items listed that will be “featured” during the chapter. They tell of death, adventure, and the joy that the reader is about to find. This method of foreshadowing by using bullet points keeps readers focused on the characters and will lead them naturally on to their eventual demise.

One of the major themes in the novel is the dehumanization of the Jewish people and the scant humanity that is left in the entire society. During one the first parades by the Nazis through town, the readers already know that Hans has a kind soul. The pain inherent in what is happening is underscored by such lyrical sentences as, “Liesel stood with her papa and Rudy. Hans Huberman wore a face with the shades pulled down.” (p.63). Such striking images suggest his past with Max, whom the family later hides behind pulled shades. Finally, using Death as a narrator may have been used before, but never to such a telling effect. His running commentary on humans and their actions leave readers with both the best and the worst humanity has to offer. Zusak’s unique and lyrical writing style ends with Death’s confession:

*** A LAST NOTE FROM YOUR NARRATOR ***

                        I am haunted by humans (p. 550).

Zusak has written a handful of novels thus far in his young life, but none so
eerily beautiful as The Book Thief.

Reader’s Annotation:

Death, a little girl, a loving father, and a Jewish boxer.
A tragic, heart-wrenching, and life-affirming tale of life in a small town during WWII.

Author Biography:

Dubbed a “literary phenomenon” by Australian and U. S. critics, Zusak is the award-winning author of four previous books for young adults: The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, Getting the Girl and I Am the Messenger, recipient of a 2006 Printz Honor for excellence in young adult literature.” (Retrieved from http://www.randomhouse.com/features/markuszusak/author.html).

Zusak grew up hearing about the Jews who were marched through his mother’s German town. On his website, he mentions that while many people assume that all Germans marched behind Hitler, through history books and other materials we know this was not true, and there were those who did not follow the rules and risked it all to hide people in their houses and help each other. One story he heard from his parents was especially poignant:

One day, there was a terrible noise coming from the main street of town, and when she ran to see it, she saw that Jewish people were being marched to Dachau, the concentration camp. At the back of the line, there was an old man, totally emaciated, who couldn’t keep up. When a teenage boy saw this, he ran inside and brought the man a piece of bread. The man fell to his knees and kissed the boy's ankles and thanked him . . . Soon, a soldier noticed and walked over. He tore the bread from the man's hands and whipped him for taking it. Then he chased the boy and whipped him for giving him the bread in the first place. In one moment, there was great kindness and great cruelty, and I saw it as the perfect story of how humans are. (Retrieved from http://www.randomhouse.com/features/markuszusak/author.html).

Genre: Historical Fantasy Fiction.

Curriculum Ties:

This novel would serve an English class or a Creative Writing class well because all of the different literary techniques used will inspire young writers. The blending of history and fantasy carry the reader as well as inform the reader of the atrocities of WWII.

Booktalking Ideas:

-Discuss the impact of Death as the narrator.

-Rudy and the “Jesse Owens incident.”
How does this set him apart from his community?

-Discuss the relationship Liesel and the Mayor’s wife had.
Why does she let Liesel steal books?

-Discuss the use of colors in the novel.

Read-Alikes:

-Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli.

-Hitler’s Canary by Sandi Toksvig.

-Briar Rose by Jane Yolen.

Challenge Issue:

Violence and offensive language (much of it, however, in German). Such language and violence were common at this time in history, and parents can always be turned toward other readings about the Holocaust. This book is not wholly a heavy read, since it also has many moments of humor and acts of kindness that shine through and teach us how such humane gestures can move all of mankind forward.

Reason to include in blog:

I first read this when it came out, and I thought it was a work of breathtaking genius.
I have read many fiction and non-fiction books on the Holocaust, but such innovative writing techniques as the drawn book that Max makes Liesel for her birthday and Death’s bold-texted announcements make the book unique.

References:

Random House. (2009). Markus Zusak. Retrieved from

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/markuszusak/author.html

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

Markus Zusak discusses The Book Thief: