This book was originally intended for adults but was marketed in the US for young adults.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Book Thief takes place during WWII and one of the most interesting things about it, is that it is told from the point of view of death. I know that makes it sound like kind of a morbid story, but it’s really not. Death is not the stereotypical grim reaper type character. In fact, death isn’t really even a character in the story. The story is really about a young girl named Liesel, who due to circumstances caused by the war is going to be left with a foster family in a town near Munich. Her father has been imprisoned for his communist sympathies, her brother has died from an illness and her mother can no longer care for her. It is as her brother is being buried that Liesel becomes the book thief, grabbing a book she spots at the graveyard. It is this act that causes Death to take an interest in Liesel.
As Liesel goes to live with the couple that have agreed to take her in Death continues to keep an eye on her. She quickly adjusts to her new life and develops strong relationships with her new family and some of the people who live on her street. Liesel continues to steal books with the help of her foster father, she begins to learn to read. She uses her stolen books for other purposes as well, including comforting neighbours during an air raid.
This story contains all the regular types of occurrences you expect to find in a WWII story – loved ones dying and disappearing , Jews being persecuted and forced into hiding, and fear and hardship, but they take such a unique twist that the story isn’t boring or predictable. I especially love the use of colour in the narrative. Zusak uses colour as a noun rather than an adjective and colour is a very important part of this novel. One of the reasons I’ve chosen this as on of my favourites is that the story is touching and real, but never overly depressing. It’s an easy read with lovable characters and an uplifting message.
I have read another book by Zusak (I am the Messanger) but it wasn’t nearly as good as The Book Thief so I won’t recommend it.
Tags: Germany, Liesel Meminger, Markus Zusak, WWII