The Book Thief

By Markus Zusak

ISBN: 9780375842207

Bibliography:

Zusak, Markus. 2006. The Book Thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Plot:

This unique and remarkable story takes place in Nazi Germany in the 1940s and is told from the perspective of Death, who becomes intrigued with a nine-year old German girl, Liesel Meminger, as she repeatedly survives heartbreaking loss after loss. An infatuation with words originates when she steals her first book from the graveside at her brother’s funeral. After Liesel’s mother gives her up for adoption, she suffers from nightmares about her brother’s death and separation from her mother. Each night as she awakens from one of her nightmares, late-night readings with her loving adoptive-father, Hans Hubermann, help her to cope with her pain. This is how Liesel learns to read and gains an appreciation for words, which ultimately saves her life.

Analysis:

Many cultural markers are used throughout this story, which help the reader to make sense of the culture in Nazi Germany during World War II. Zusack paints a disturbing yet accurate account of Nazi Germany in which the reader repeatedly witnesses the brutality of war and the social and political pressures on the German people to join the Nazi Party as well as the consequences of not joining the party. Zusack successfully explores many opposing themes such as tolerance and intolerance, love and hate, and selfishness and sacrifice, which help readers to understand the intensity and chaos of these unfortunate events in history.

German language is interspersed throughout the story with English translations immediately following the German words. The derogatory terms, saumensch and saukerl, which respectively mean "girl pig" and "boy pig", become endearing terms mostly used by Liesel’s stepmother, Rosa Hubermann, when she refers to Liesel. Liesel and her best friend, Rudy, often jokingly use these terms when referring to each other.

The majority of the story takes place in Molching, Germany, where things become increasingly tense as the Hubermann's take in Max Vandenburg, the German-Jewish son of the man that had saved Hans Hubermann's life. Hans Hubermann understands the grave consequences the family will face if Max is discovered. As Liesel forms a strong bond with Max, they discuss the power of words and the way that Hitler's words motivate people out of fear. These experiences help Liesel to find her own words.

Review Excerpts:

The Washington Post: “Death, like Liesel, has a way with words. And he recognizes them not only for the good they can do, but for the evil as well. What would Hitler have been, after all, without words? As this book reminds us, what would any of us be?”

New York Times: “It’s the kind of book that can be life-changing, because without ever denying the essential amorality and randomness of the natural order, The Book Thief offers us a believable hard-won hope…The hope we see in Liesel is unassailable, the kind you can hang on to in the midst of poverty and war and violence. Young readers need such alternatives to ideological rigidity, and such explorations of how stories matter. And so, come to think of it, do adults.”

Connections:

*Other books about the Holocaust:

Wolf, Joan M. Someone Named Eva. ISBN: 9780547237664

Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars. ISBN: 9780440227533

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow. ISBN: 978-0439353793

*For other teaching ideas, please visit the United States Memorial Museum Holocaust Website:

http://www.ushmm.org/education/foreducators/

*Other books by Markus Zusack:

I Am the Messenger ISBN: 9780375836671

Getting the Girl ISBN: 9780439389501

Fighting Ruben Wolf ISBN: 9780439241878

Underdog ISBN: 9783473352340

When Dogs Cry ISBN: 9780330363099