The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
reviewed by Maria Luiso
Markus Zusak’s historical fiction novel The Book Thief uses unexpected points of view to convey a fresh and compelling view of Nazi Germany. The book centers around Liesel Meminger, a young girl living in Germany during Hitler’s reign who learns to read and discovers the power of words. The story is narrated in first person by Death itself, which is especially striking considering the setting of the book. Liesel’s interest in books and Death’s interest in Liesel come together into a story that show how beautiful and terrible living in war can be.
In winter of 1939, Liesel Meminger and her brother Werner are sent to live with Rosa and Hans Huberman. Her brother dies on the way there, which is when Death first sees Liesel, and she commits her first book thievery- she steals the handbook that the gravediggers used to bury her brother. Liesel settles into life in her new home, Himmel Street in Germany, under Hitler’s rule. She learns to love her foster mother, Rosa, a strong personality who shows her love for the girl through curse words, her foster father, Hans, who earns Liesel’s trust through his gentle care and teaches her how to read, and her best friend, Rudy Steiner, a boy her age who is desperate for a kiss from Liesel. Her mostly normal life is disrupted when Max Vanderburg, the Jewish son of Han’s friend, comes to Himmel street to hide from the Nazis in the Huberman house. Liesel and her foster parents must try to continue living their normal lives while attempting to protect Max’s life- and their own. As time goes on and the war grows worse, a steady friendship built on books grows between Max and Liesel, and Liesel finds that there is great and terrible power in words.
The Book Thief is one of my favorite novels of all time. Zusak’s use of figurative language and suspense throughout is masterful. Metaphor is used frequently in The Book Thief, and it creates some of the most beautiful images in the book, such as Liesel seeing Hans’ eyes as silver and describing them as hardening, melting, and corroding at different points in the book. This imagery provides characterization and gives reader an idea of what Hans is like and how he is feeling without having it said outright. Because the novel is historical fiction, there is a lack of suspense already. Zusak goes even further with that by having Death tell readers the ending of the story within the first few chapters. Although unconventional, this lack of suspense is appropriate, because we also know how our own stories will end- with death.
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
reviewed by Emily Cupo
The historical fiction novel The Book Thief is a thought-provoking page turner by Markus Zusak, following a young girl’s day to day navigation of life in the increasingly dangerous times in Nazi Germany during the early 1940s, taking place over the span of roughly four years. Narrated by Death, readers are given a very unique perspective, often switching focus to and from different characters to gain a new understanding of certain situations.
Liesel Meminger, the main character, enters the story as an illiterate, naïve ten-year-old moving in with two foster parents because her parents lacked the financial stability to provide the best care for her and her younger brother, Warren, who passed away very shortly into the story. The Hubermann’s, Liesel’s foster parents, take her in and her foster father, Hans Hubermann, soon realizes the deficit her illiteracy causes many issues and begins slowly teaching her to read. While developing a passionate love for reading and attempting to fit in, Liesel forges a special friendship with Rudy Steiner, a nearby neighbor. Through juvenile trickery, rebellion, and a little thievery Rudy and Liesel quickly become best friends. The introduction of Max Vandenburg into Liesel’s life is one of the many formative experiences that occur over the course of the story. Max, a Jewish man attempting to escape Hitler’s wrath and concentration camps, escapes from his current town to Molching, Germay, where the Hubermann’s and Liesel reside. Due to the urgency of his escape and the danger he put Liesel’s family in, Max’s presence at the Hubermann household was a “secret that was buried deep” (212), both of Liesel’s parents having her vow to never tell another soul. Though originally in a very dilapidated, distraught state, Max gradually becomes good company for Liesel, as she is often found practicing reading to him and scavenging the occasional newspaper for him as he is concealed in the Hubermann basement. The title “the book thief” is what death refers to Liesel as while he recounts the events of her story, though it was first said by Rudy one night when he bids farewell saying, “goodnight book thief”, after they steal a story together. Liesel’s allegiance to her country in turmoil, her new family, and her friends is tested repeatedly throughout the novel, and plays a role in her coming of age.
Zusak’s work is nothing short of phenomenal. The general concept of having the story narrated by death affected the mood of the story as a whole and gave it a more profound meaning, with a longer lasting effect. Speaking often in verbal irony, the narrator gave this book an often humorous outlook on rather gruesome situations. A personal deep interest in the Holocaust compelled me to read The Book Thief, though I believe it would be a suitable, enthralling story for readers of any age. I would specifically recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical or suspenseful novels, because it would be a fascinating piece of work for anyone who prefers those genres.
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
reviewed by Julia Yellen
Mark Zusak's nontraditional historical fiction novel, The Book Thief, illustrates a nine-year-old girl’s hectic life growing up in Nazi Germany at the height of World War II. The book journeys through multiple perspectives and exposes the horrors of war.
The story starts with Death as the narrator, surprisingly with a compassionate and understanding voice, who sympathizes for his victims. Death has an uncanny interest in a poor German girl named Liesel Merminger, who has been robbed by life. Her brother dies in her arms, her father is dead, and her mother, a communist, deserts her. To take revenge on life, Liesel accomplishes her first act of thievery at her brother’s funeral when she steals “The Grave Digger’s Handbook”— “the beginning of an illustrious career” (Zusak 29). She is later forced to live with a foster family named the Hubermanns, consisting of a harsh, yet caring foster mother named Rosa and an accordion-playing, cigar-smoking foster father named Hans. Her new home is a loving refuge: a blessing in disguise. When Liesel is nightmare ridden, Hans comforts her every night by teaching her how to read her stolen book. The two form a strong bond as Liesel falls in love with words. She uses the book as an escape to heal the wounds inflicted by life. Inspired greatly by the power of words, Liesel— the notorious “Book Thief"— strikes again at a Nazi book burning event, desperate to learn and read more. There, she makes food and book stealing an exciting habit with her best friend, Rudy Steiner, when they take from the mayor’s wife, Ilsa’s library and from their local farm. But Liesel’s entire world is flipped upside-down when Hans hides a Jewish refugee named Max in his basement. Liesel develops a powerful relationship with Max, bonding over their passions for books. Liesel and everyone in her life struggle to survive in a world overcome by evil and prejudice as they learn the power of acceptance and love.
The Book Thief captivates readers with a symphony of wonderfully worded, poetic and figurative language with metaphoric and symbolic allusions throughout. Its enthralling and breathtaking plot is beautifully structured and well thought-out. Skillfully narrated, Zusak offers the perfect amount of suspense, masterfully foreshadowing important connections between events and characters and keeping me on the edge of my seat the entire time. He uses vivid imagery that makes readers feel like they are in Liesel’s shoes, exploring Molching themselves. The author takes readers on an adventure through serious warlike problems and a suspenseful, inspiring, and fascinating story of a courageous girl. Using Death as the storyteller, Zusak immediately stimulates curiosity and hooks and amuses readers with dark humor. The Book Thief possesses interesting and unique characters who make readers' hearts melt as they hope for the best. Characters like Liesel are inspiring and strong, despite all that they’ve gone through. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, long, detailed books, poetic language and powerful characters. The Book Thief is a touching story (that even Death can love) about using the power of words for good— to create friendships, save lives and spread love.
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
reviewed by Nina Keshishian
One of my favorite books that I have ever read is The Book Thief, written by Markus Zusak. This fiction, historical drama is based on the Holocaust and the traumatic events that occurred during this time. The main character Liesel Meminger is a prime example of children during this time and how they had to deal with living their everyday lives during the Holocaust. Through making friends and adjusting to her new family Liesel was able to grow and mature as a strong young woman who was always wise beyond her years. Liesel’s abiding relationships with her foster father Hans, family friend Max Vandenburg, and best friend Rudy Steiner are some of the most important aspects of the novel. Her father showed her what real family is like and how important one person can be to her. Her family friend Max showed her how much one person can impact and change your life. Max Vandenburg was a jew who was secretly staying in the basement of the Memingers, who were German. Liesel’s father owed Max a favor so he offered to let him stay with his family since he needed to hide from the Nazis during the Holocaust. Max exposed young Liesel to the dangers of the world and the challenges of life. He showed her that even good people are sometimes punished for no reason and that life is not always easy. Her best friend Rudy showed her what true love was at a young age and what true friendship looks like. Although it took her time to realize it, Liesel was truly in love with Rudy. He showed her what love and friendship was and she was forever thankful for that. From helping Liesel steal books, to standing up for her, Rudy was always there to help Liesel with anything and everything she needed. Rudy and Liesel’s friendship was my favorite part about this book because of how close they were and how beautiful it was. This novel showed me what the Holocaust was like and how hard life was for those living in it. Throughout this novel I got to watch Liesel embark on her journey of growing up and gaining wisdom and maturity. I fell in love with some characters and hated others. It was an amazing book that I would recommend to everyone teens and to those who would like to read something that is touching but also quite sad.
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
reviewed by Alexandra Ehrhart
The Book Thief, a historical fiction novel written by multi-award winning author Markus Zusak, follows Liesel Meminger during her young life in Germany during World War Il. The Book Thief accompanies Liesel as she enters the reality of the world and all of the accompanying pain. Living with foster parents Hans and Rosa Hubermann, bereft of relatives, Liesel has struggled enough. However, living in Germany during Hitler’s reign, there are always more conflicts to come.
Zusak uses symbolism throughout The Book Thief to help readers understand the story more in-depth. He shows many World War II conflicts through the eyes of a child. Zusak compares everyday children's’ activities with the realities of war. In the book, Zusak shows Liesel playing dominoes, a harmless game. However, through discreet symbolism, Zusak turns a pastime into a powerful realization: “He made three separate formations that led to the same tower of dominoes in the middle. Together, they would watch everything that was so carefully planned to collapse, and they would all smile at the beauty of destruction,” (Zusak 408). The dominoes symbolize everything in society falling apart. However, most outside of the Jewish population do not recognize the devastation around them, and support Hitler, oblivious to everything that is going on. All of the symbolism that Zusak uses allows readers to not only read the initial interpretation of his words, but also dive into the underlying meanings.
Zusak also uses much irony in his novel. The story is narrated by Death, who has a dark and brutally realistic sense of the world. Zusak’s sense of irony is evident when it comes to Death, which generally has a negative connotation. Ironically, Death turns out to be a very humorous, wise, and agreeable character who expresses its desire that everyone live a long life without suffering, the opposite of what most would expect of Death. Often, Death expresses how terrible the concentration camps are, and expresses a dislike for Nazi ways. Another instance in the novel where Zusak uses irony with Death is when Death says, “You want to know what I truly look like? I’ll help you out. Find yourself a mirror while I continue,” (307). While humans fear Death itself, Death points out that humans are real reason people die. People kill one another, especially in war. Humans, not Death, created gas chambers, guns, violence, and the war itself. Ironically, Death is just the result of people’s behavior.
I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone. I appreciated the cleverness and deliberate thought put into each sentence. Zusak uses figurative language,imagery, and detail to help the reader understand Jewish hardships during the war. Anyone who is interested in history, or emotional stories will embrace this novel. With a mix of history, friendship, moral concepts, and humor, and through his use of symbolism and irony, Markus Zusak has created an interesting, humorous, and heart wrenching book that I would recommend to any reader.
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
reviewed by Sarah Hanks
Set in Molching, Germany during World War II, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, examines life in a war torn town. Narrated by death, himself, the story entices readers with both its historical accuracy and its personal narrative. Seen through the eyes of Liesel Meminger, a young German girl, The Book Thief, shows Nazi Germany’s effect on the different people of the time. Liesel Meminger is joined on Himmel Street by her foster parents Hans and Rosa Hubermann, her friend Rudy Steiner, and a Jewish runaway staying in her basement, Max Vandenburg. The book shows the differences in life for the young, the old, the Nazi sympathisers, Nazi opposers, the Germans, and the Jewish people. The Book Thief, allows the reader to relax into the everyday routine of Liesel while simultaneously waiting for tragedy to strike.
The Book Thief begins with death, the narrator, introducing himself and pushing the reader into the life of Liesel Meminger. Liesel is given to the Hubermann’s when her own mother can no longer care for her. She suffers from nightmares every night but it is not until she wets the bed does Hans Hubermann begin to teach her how to read, a turning point in the story, “People have defining moments...for others it’s a moment of bed-wetting hysteria.” (Zusak 62). Liesel’s love for reading and books only grows from this point on. She steals her first book involuntarily, and even the second book is only stolen due to a moment of opportunity, however, she begins to make stealing a habit on excursions with her friend, Rudy Steiner. If Liesel’s life was not already hectic enough, a Jewish refugee makes his way into her basement and presents a new set of problems for herself and her family. Max Vandenburg, the son of a friend of Hans’, is, at first, an uncomfortably accepted guest but he soon becomes an instillation of the family, “Now I think we are friends, this girl and me.” (237). The book reminds the reader, love can come from unexpected places.
The Book Thief, enchants the reader with its amusing narration, refreshing point of view, and its timeline of World War II. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a historical fiction book that balances serious topics and entertaining storylines. The reader is taken through a tumultuous time in history with death as a guide and a young girl as the eyes.
