The Book Thief (Module 6)

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Zusak, Markus. 2005. The Book Thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN: 9780375842207

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Through the words of Death (the narrator), nine-year-old Liesel’s story of survival plays out in the midst of the horrific events of WWII Nazi Germany. She loses her family, is fostered by a family that hides a Jew in their basement, and steals books from many different sources—including a Nazi book burning. Although she again loses pretty much everything in the end, the reader finds hope in the fact that she did survive and continued to build a life for herself.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Zusak has written a beautiful and highly literary book in The Book Thief. In an interview at the end of the novel, he says, “I like the idea that every page in every book can have a gem on it.” His craftsmanship has allowed him to do this while still sounding natural and keeping the pages turning. For example, Liesel describes Max’s hair as twigs when he first arrives on their doorstep and as feathers once he has been taken care of better. There is a lot of German words thrown in but the narrator, not being German, gives the reader sidenote translations that help with understanding.

Zusak also plays with style by incorporating simple drawings and storybooks within the story. One such storybook had been written on a copy of Mein Kampf that had been painted over in white. The reader of The Book Thief can see the words of Mein Kampf bleeding through the page. Such attention to detail is what helps make this story come alive.

There are many unexpected twists, and yet so often the narrator reveals things way before it happens: “I’m spoiling the ending” (e.g. who is going to die or how). Even so, it seems fresh in the way that it is done and the writing of the characters is so well-crafted that the reader still finds himself hoping it wouldn’t be true and weeping when it was.

The history and events are explained well, without being tedious. The perspective is unique as we get to see the war from the eyes of the children (and adults) who were just trying to survive it, even though many are Nazis in Germany. Even with the obvious moral issues that WWII Germany brings up, because Death is the narrator, there are no pat answers or moralizing within the story—just a description of events. In the end, this story of fighting for what’s right, while not actually being able to fight at all, is one that will stay with the reader haunting him as much as the stories of humans “haunt” Death.


Zusak mentions his research methods in an interview that follows the novel: researched before, during, and after writing, included a trip to Munich to check facts at the end. His sources are also listed in the acknowledgments. For those who want more information, there are also lists of related titles and internet resources.


4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)


• Michael L. Printz Honor Book
• ALA Best Books for Young Adults
• Booklist review: “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.”
• Horn Book starred review: “Exquisitely written and memorably populated, Zusak's poignant tribute to words, survival, and their curiously inevitable entwinement is a tour de force to be not just read but inhabited.”
• Kirkus starred review: “The writing is elegant, philosophical and moving. Even at its length, it's a work to read slowly and savor.”
• Library Media Connection starred review: “Part Holocaust tale, part coming-of-age story, and part the book thief's story, this title will have readers thinking and talking.”
• School Library Journal starred review: “Zusak not only creates a mesmerizing and original story but also writes with poetic syntax, causing readers to deliberate over phrases and lines, even as the action impels them forward.”


5. CONNECTIONS


• Markus Zusak has a taped interview online about what brought him to write about this subject. It can be used as a preview for booktalking or as a wrap up after having read the book.
  
• Discussion questions are included in the back of the book. Also, there is an online forum discussion of the book thief hosted by Random House. Encourage those readers who really want to get into more discussions about the book to look at what’s being discussed there. As always, make sure that all students who are participating on anything online understand and adhere to good safety and privacy rules.
  
• Other fiction novels about the Holocaust:


Boyne, John. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. ISBN: 9780385751063
Cormier, Robert. Tunes for Bears to Dance to. ISBN: 9780440219033
Spiegelman, Art. Maus. (Graphic novel). ISBN: 9780394747231
Spinelli, Jerry. Milkweed. ISBN: 9780375813740