Historical Fiction: The Book Thief

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Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2007. Print. ISBN 978-0-375-84220-7; paperback; $12.99

Annotation: Nine year old Liesel Meminger lives with adopted parents during World War II in Nazi Germany. Liesel and her parents come across a Jew named Max who hides in their basement while Max and Liesel bond over their circumstances and the books they steal.

Book Awards

2006: School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

2006: Daniel Elliott Peace Award

2006: Publishers Weekly Best Children Book of the Year

2006: Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book 2007: Michael L. Printz Award

Book Review:  In Nazi Germany during the beginning stages of WWII, nine-year-old Liesel Meminger is forced to live with foster parents in the city of Molching. The beginning of Liesel's journey is where the narrator of the story, Death, first en

counters Liesel as her brother dies before making it to Molching. It is during her brother's burial when Liesel accidentally recover's her first book. Although she cannot read, she is fascinated by the book. As Liesel adapts to life with her foster parents and friends in Molching, Max Vandenburg, a Jew, stumbles into the lives of Liesel and her foster parents. Because of his past, Liesel's foster parents hide Max in their basement as the war continues to decimate the country. Max and Liesel bond over their love and fascination with books as Liesel begins stealing them, taking them to get back all that she has already lost.

Zusak writes The Book Thief in little vignette's, dividing the story in brief episodes. Liesel's youth and innocence shines throughout the story during such a frightening period in history. The tone of the story is set in the beginning when the narrator, Death, shows himself to be sympathetic and disturbed by the violence and despair caused by the Nazi's and WWII. The pace of the story is quick and beautifully told as the reader gets a glimpse of the full spectrum of Germans living in a small town during the Nazi Regime and WWII.  Zusak writing and storytelling can be funny and tragic on the same page in this unsettling story that shines in the most unexpected moments.  I would highly recommend The Book Thief to young adults in high school and college or any young adult who is captivated by the history of such a powerful and tumultuous time in history.