The Book Thief

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak

Set in Germany during the Second World War, this book, unlike many others set in this period, does not focus on Jews. There are Jewish characters in the book, and the plight of the Jews is by no means ignored. But our heroine is German. Her name is Liesel.

Some of the characters, though charming, feel too whimsical to be real. The constant name-calling as an expression of affection has its moments, but these are few and far between, making the constant background noise of "saumensch!" feel unnecessary and clunky.

A unique feature of this book is the narrator. He is Death. Zusak's Death is not a silent spectre, nor an aloof observor. He feels, and tries to avoid his feelings. He is a sympathetic figure.

Zusak's style is sharp, choppy, and perfect for this book. I have not read any of his other works, so I am unable to say whether this style is his normal one, or whether he adopted it for this tale. There are points when the style verges on the indulgent, when one simply wants the story to move forward. The lists made by Death feel honest, like the lists people would make when trying to assert control over their world.

What would anyone be without words? This is a question the book addresses. Liesel grows into someone who truly knows the value of words. She knows what is worth stealing. Words have the power to calm frantic people in bomb shelters and to forge steel bonds of friendship between a German and a Jew.

This book is not perfect. But, then, no book is. It is a book that I approached with reluctance and left grudgingly. The first few pages are confusing, but once Zusak begins the core story, it is well worth reading.

Genre: In America, it is classified as Young Adult, in Australia, it is shelved with the Adult fiction. Whatever age range you choose, it is a historical novel dealing with the extreme themes of that time period.

Age Range: I would say it is young adult, but an older young adult. 14+

Length: over 500 pages

Additional Comments: This book is powerful and moving. It may not change your life, but it will help you explore who you want to be and how you view the value of words.