The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a powerful and poignant story of a young girl coming of age in Nazi Germany during World War II.  Published in 2005, the story follows a young girl, Liesel Meminger, as she struggles to cope with the horrors of the war and the oppressive Nazi regime.  Death acts as a narrator, an often misunderstood character, who has a unique, and occasionally humorous, perspective on the events that unfold.

Liesel Meminger is a nine-year-old German girl who is sent to live with her foster family, an older couple, Hans and Rosa Huberman, in the small town of Molching after her parents are taken away by the Nazis.  While Rosa is more of a tough love type of person, Hans shows her the kindness and compassion she needed despite their own struggles. In spite of the hardships she faces, Liesel is an incredibly brave and resilient girl. She finds solace in books that she steals to read, and it is through these books that she gains an understanding of the world and her place in it.  As Liesel’s love of books grows, she develops a special friendship with a Jewish man named Max, who hides in her basement. Throughout the novel, we see how Liesel uses books to escape her harsh reality and how her love of books helps her to find strength and courage in the face of adversity.

The story is as much about the characters as it is about the time period in which it is set. Liesel’s foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann, are kind and loving, despite the difficult circumstances they find themselves in. Their neighbors, the Steiners, are also a source of love and friendship for Liesel. Other characters, such as Rudy Steiner, Ilsa Hermann, and Max Vandenburg, also show Liesel kindness and compassion in the face of adversity.

Death acting as a narrator provides necessary insight into the characters and their world that would otherwise have been wholly unavailable or incomprehensible to the reader if some other device was used in place of the one that is being used.  Death also highlights the power of books and how they can help people to survive in difficult times.  The Book Thief is an emotional rollercoaster of a story, with moments of humor and joy, as well as moments of sorrow and darkness. Zusak’s writing is vivid and compelling, and his use of language is effective in conveying the emotions and experiences of the characters.

The Book Thief is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished it. It is an inspiring story of resilience and hope in the face of overwhelming odds.  It is a story about the power of friendship and the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.  But above all, it is a story about books and the power of literature.  It is a must-read for everyone, and especially anyone interested in World War II and its aftermath.

Check out the Book Thief from NBPL!