Friday, January 11, 2008

The Book Thief


This is the first book I've read by Markus Zusak. He has a German mother so she must have sparked his interest in Nazi Germany and two of his books (including this one) have been chosen as Michael L. Prinze award Honor winners.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, is narrated by Death and tells the story of girl named Liesel who lives in Nazi Germany with her foster parents. Liesel steals books and takes care a Jewish man named Max hiding in the basement of her house. Her foster mother Rosa is very stern disciplinarian and her foster father Hans is a kind teacher. Max draws and writes stories for her to read. Liesel spend most of the time reading and dreaming about her dead brother while the war is at her doorstep. The Mayor's wife lets her steal books from her house and makes her cookies, because Liesel reminds her of her dead son.

I thought Liesel and her parents are believable. Liesel was very brave and matured greatly in the three years the book takes place. This book would be appropriate for all young adults and I would recommend it to any reader who has read books about the Holocaust before.





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