The Book Thief.

Markus Zusak. 2005. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 552 p. ISBN 978-0-375-84220-7

Plot Summary: The Book Thief is the story of Leisel, a young girl who lives in Nazi Germany. The book is cleverly written from the viewpoint of Death, who follows Liesel’s story during this particularly busy time in his career. Leisel lives with her foster parents and is haunted by nightmares every night of the death of her younger brother, who died on the trip to the foster parents. Leisel is a book thief—her first theft is stealing The Gravedigger’s Guide from the very graveyard where her brother is buried, her second book stolen from a government-sponsored book burning. Taught to read by her stepfather, she discovers the magic of words to overcome her fears and to give her a sense of empowerment. Leisel comes to love her foster parents, the patient Hans and the shrill Rosa, and plays soccer with her friend Rudy (who vows that when Death captures him “he will feel my fist on his face.” p.189). As required she joins the Hitler Youth, even as she guards the secret of the Jew (Max) hidden in the basement. This is an inspiring growing-up tale.

Critical Evaluation: Markus Zusak is a wonderful writer and his writing, at times, is akin to poetry. The power of the written word is the theme that ties together the story: “Once words had rendered Liesel useless, but now . . . she felt an innate sense of power. It happened every time she deciphered a new word or pieced together a sentence.” (p.147). At first illiterate, Liesel discovers the power of words to calm her nightmares and give her a sense of self. She develops a close relationship with her stepfather as he slowly teaches her to read, and it is words that form her relationship with Max, the Jew the family hides (“Max and Liesel were held together by the quiet gathering of words.”). This is an awe-inspiring book for older teens and adults.

Reader's Annotation: In The Book Thief, Lisel discovers the power of words.


About the author: Markus Zusak was born in Sydney Australia in 1975. He is the son of an Austrian father, who was a house painter and a German mother. He started writing when he was 17, and is the award-winning author of four young adult books: The Book Thief, Getting the Girl, I am the Messenger and Fighting Ruben Wolfe. He lives in Sydney, Australia with his wife and daughter.

He states that he grew up hearing stories about Nazi Germany and the bombing of Munich and that these were his inspirations for writing The Book Thief. “We have these images of the straight-marching lines of boys and the ‘Heil Hitlers’ and this idea that everyone in Germany was in it together. But there still were rebellious children and people who didn’t follow the rules and people who hid Jews and other people in their houses. So there’s another side to Nazi Germany” (Sydney Herald News). You can learn more about Markus Zusak at http://www.randomhouse.com/features/markuszusak/

Genre: Historical fiction.

Curriculum Ties: World War II.

Booktalking Ideas: Death has a constant presence in the world of Nazi Germany. Can Liesel and her family escape his visitations?

Reading level/Interest Age: Grades 10 and up.

Challenge Issues: N/A

Why I picked it: The Book Thief was a Michael L. Printz award honor book.