The Book Thief Book Review


The Book Thief

By: Markus Zusak


1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Zusak, M. (2005). The Book Thief. Knopf. ISBN: 9780385754729

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Liesel is sent to a foster family during World War II. Death has already visited her brother on a train traveling in Nazi Germany. Liesel does not know how to read or write but longs to learn. When her brother is buried hastily, a grave digger drops his book and she secures it in her coat. She continues on to the Hubermann house where they foster her. Hans Hubermann gains her trust by teaching her how to read and write. Max, a Jew, shows up as Nazis are taking over and raiding shops and homes. Liesel forms a strong bond with him and he transforms his copy of Mein Kampf to a book for her. He leaves soon after to try to escape. Rosa, her foster mom, has her take the laundry to clients including the mayor’s wife. She invites Liesel in and allows her to read in the library during the day. When Liesel learns that Frau Hermann can no longer afford her laundry she resorts to stealing books from their house. The bombing moves closer and Liesel spends the time reading with neighbors in a basement while bombs and sirens are going off. One evening there are no sirens and everyone dies on the street except for Liesel because she’s reading Max’s book in the basement. Death continues his job until he meets up with Liesel in Australia to take her at her old age. Death hands her the book she was reading when the bomb went off and Death declares he is haunted by humans. 



3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The most unique part of this book is that it’s told from Death’s point of view. His description of when he takes a person’s soul almost makes him seem to have sympathy. Death travels around and is kept quite busy in Nazi Germany. The main character, Liesel, lives with the Hubermanns in a small town outside of Munich. Zusak depicts a semblance of a normal life for teens in the town. Liesel befriends Rudy and they spend their time delivering laundry and stealing books. They play in the streets and run races. The tone quickly turns darker as Hitler’s grip spreads into their town. They enroll in the Hitler Youth and the tone is somber. The theme of the book is love. Through tragedies, love prevails time after time. Liesel’s love for her brother and mother, her foster parents. Max hidden away in the basement, Rudy, and books diminish the horrifying scenes playing out.. Liesel’s strength transforms her into a hero of sorts for the neighbors during the bombings and defying Hitler by not burning books. I rank this book as one of my favorite books of all time. I am a huge fan of historical fiction, especially the World War II era. It has stuck with me even after finishing it which is rare. 


4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

  • AudioFile starred, 12/01/06 

  • Book Links, 06/01/11

  • Booklist, 01/01/06

  • Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books starred, 05/01/06

  • Five Owls, 04/01/07

  • Horn Book Magazine, 01/01/07 

  • Horn Book Magazine starred, 03/01/06

  • Horn Book Magazine starred, 10/01/06 

  • Kirkus Reviews starred, 01/15/06

  • Library Media Connection starred, 03/01/06

  • Margaret A. Edwards Award, 2014 

  • Michael L. Printz Honor, 2007

  • New York Times, 05/14/06

  • Parents' Choice Gold Award, 2006

  • Publishers Weekly starred, 01/30/06

  • Publishers Weekly starred, 11/13/06 

  • School Library Journal starred, 03/01/06

  • Sydney Taylor Book Award, 2007

  • Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) starred, 06/01/06

  • Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) starred, 12/01/18 

  • Wilson's Junior High School, 08/01/07 

  • Wilson's Junior High School, 01/09/10

  • Wilson's Senior High School, 11/01/06 

  • Wilson's Senior High School, 10/01/07

  • Wilson's Senior High School, 10/01/11 


  • Booklist (January 1, 2006 (Vol. 102, No. 9))

  • Gr. 10-12. Death is the narrator of this lengthy, powerful story of a town in Nazi Germany. He is a kindly, caring Death, overwhelmed by the souls he has to collect from people in the gas chambers, from soldiers on the battlefields, and from civilians killed in bombings. Death focuses on a young orphan, Liesl; her loving foster parents; the Jewish fugitive they are hiding; and a wild but gentle teen neighbor, Rudy, who defies the Hitler Youth and convinces Liesl to steal for fun. After Liesl learns to read, she steals books from everywhere. When she reads a book in the bomb shelter, even a Nazi woman is enthralled. Then the book thief writes her own story. There's too much commentary at the outset, and too much switching from past to present time, but as in Zusak's enthralling I Am the Messenger (2004), the astonishing characters, drawn without sentimentality, will grab readers. More than the overt message about the power of words, it's Liesl's confrontation with horrifying cruelty and her discovery of kindness in unexpected places that tell the heartbreaking truth.


5. CONNECTIONS

Author study on Markus Zusak

Doerr, A. (2014). All the Light We Cannot See. Scribner. ISBN: 9781476746586 

Boyne, J. (2006). The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. David Fickling Books.. ISBN: 9780399559310

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