Tolog Review: The Book Thief

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
reviewed by Shanley Galanto

The Book Thief is a heart-wrenching book filled with hope and despair, love and hate, life and death. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a wonderfully written book about World War II that shows the difficulty of war from the standpoint of a young German girl named Liesel, with commentary from Death. 

At her brother’s funeral, Liesel steals her first book. It is a symbolic start of her new life, as she is about to go to a foster home. With this new family, she begins to love them as her own papa and mama. The story develops as Germany delves further into war against Jews. When Liesel’s foster parents harbor a Jew in their basement, Liesel creates a deep and dangerous friendship with him. However, no one is safe, German or not, in World War II, and much distress and anguish is to come for Liesel and her family. 

Death is another main character in The Book Thief. The way Death is portrayed not as a scary villain, but more as a slave to humanity. Death comforts the souls he carries away. It is chilling when Death says, “I am haunted by humans” It brings to light that humans cannot blame death, but blame themselves for their own destruction.

This book shows the best and worst of humanity. The Book Thief shows how malicious and cruel people can be to each other, but it also shows the friendships people can make and the love people can have for one another. There is an overwhelming amount of sadness, but there is also an astounding amount of hope. This book is an extraordinary story that will change the way people look at life, death, and all that’s in-between.