1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Zusak, Markus. 2005. THE BOOK THIEF. New York, NY: Random House, Inc.
ISBN 978-0-375-84220-7
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Death narrates this moving tale of a young girl growing up with foster parents in the midst of the horrors of World War II in Nazi Germany. In a sea of distressing loss, Liesel steals and treasures books. As the war intensifies, Death chronicles Liesel’s bittersweet journey, including her special friendship with a Jewish man whom her foster parents harbor in the basement, protecting him from the Nazis.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Destined to be a classic, Markus Zusak’s brilliantly written young adult fiction, set in Nazi Germany, weaves history from World War II with a heart-wrenching tale of Liesel Meminger’s survival and coming of age. The story opens as Death recalls the passing of nine-year-old Liesel’s younger brother during her dark journey to the foster home. Throughout the story, Death portrays itself as a reluctant but benevolent participant in the gentle transport of souls from this earth, while simultaneously wrestling with the sadness of human loss. At Liesel’s brother’s grave, she steals her first book, a Gravedigger’s Handbook, the impetus for learning to read and future thefts. Zusak’s artistic language draws the reader into Liesel’s ravaged world as her mother leaves her with foster parents Hans and Rosa Heinrich: “It was a goodbye that was wet, with the girl’s head buried into woolly, worn shallows of her mother’s coat.”
Zusak creates multidimensional characters reflecting both endearing traits and honest foibles. His original creation about the horrors of WWII is reminiscent of the The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, portraying a unique perspective of children living in Nazi Germany, showing the universal longings of children, the devastating pain of loss, and the hope for better future. Zusak’s vivid word choice and organizational structure enable readers to visualize the setting while simultaneously joining Lisesel’s quest to find and understand her place in an unfriendly world. This outstanding book is raw and not for young readers. While Zusak peppers the tale with light-hearted moments and touching relationships, THE BOOK THIEF demands maturity of thought from the reader. Written from a different perspective than many WWII stories, the story may be somewhat troubling to Jewish readers who lost friends and relatives in the Holocaust. In this complex novel, Lisesel’s tenacity and courage in overcoming obstacles ultimately gives readers inspiration.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS & AWARDS
Michael L. Printz Honor Book Award 2008
Outstanding Books for College Bound Students 2009
KIRKUS REVIEW starred, January 2006: “This big, expansive novel is a leisurely working out of fate, of seemingly chance encounters and events that ultimately touch, like dominoes as they collide. The writing is elegant, philosophical and moving. Even at its length, it’s a work to read slowly and savor. Beautiful and important.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, January 2006: “It’s a measure of how successfully Zusak has humanized these characters that even though we know they are doomed, it’s no less devastating when Death finally reaches them”
5. CONNECTIONS
THE BOOK THIEF text includes an excellent three-page Questions for Discussion guide that includes extensive questions and writing prompts.
Before reading the text, research the following topics through webquesting: Results of WWI for Germany, political climate of Germany prior to WWII, Adolph Hitler, the Hitler Youth, Nazi death camps, timeline of WWII, United States involvement
Creative writing connection: Engage students in brainstorming and composing a different ending to the story. Have student read aloud and explain each student’s original ending.
