Thursday, April 21, 2016

The Book Thief

Zusak, M. (2005). The book thief. New York, NY: Knopf Books for Young Readers.

 Genre: Historical Fiction (based on WWII/holocaust events, emphasis on the story, not history)

 Subjects:  Young Adult Fiction - World War II, holocaust, overcoming adversity, Jews, Death & Dying, Germany 1933-1945

 Audience: Ages 12 & up

Death narrates the story of Liesel, a nine year old German girl who is taken from her mother and placed in foster care with Hans and Rosa in a Suburb of Munich, Germany prior to World War II.  As her mother was taking her Hans and Rosa, Liesel's brother dies on the train. When they bury him, Liesel steals a book from the gravedigger.  When Hans learns that Liesel cannot read, he teaches her and they read the stolen book together. Hans is a Jewish sympathizer and hides a Jewish man named Max in the basement.  Max and Liesel become friends and she shares stories about her life and friends.  Liesel's best friend is a boy named Rudy who dreams of being the next Jesse Owens and winning an Olympic medal.  Rosa sends Liesel to deliver laundry to the Mayor's wife, she sees all the books that they own.  When the mayor's wife cancels the laundry services, Rudy and Liesel start stealing the books.  The Mayor's wife soon figures out what is going on and begins to leave notes and books for Liesel, including a book to write her own story in.  As the political unrest intensifies, the Nazi's began to frequent the city more often. Hans fears for Max's safety and sends him away but he is eventually caught.  The Nazi's try to draft Rudy, but his father refuses and Rudy's father and Hans are sent instead.  One night there is an air raid and everyone hides in Hans and Rosa's basement. The town is bombed and many people are killed.  When they finally venture out of the basement, Liesel finds Rudy's body and gives him a kiss. The workers take her away and she leaves behind the book she has been writing and Death takes it.  Liesel lives a long life.  When she dies, Death comes for her and shows her the book she had written so many years before because he is fascinated by human nature and the human capacity for compassion and survival.  Zusak has created strong, resilient characters in a tumultuous era where human cruelty is at it's worst.  He has created a vivid picture of Nazi Germany, friendship, loss, and survival in an unforgettable tale.

Awards:
National Jewish Book Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature (2006)
Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Children's Literature (2007)
Buxtehuder Bulle (2008)
Sydney Taylor Book Award for Teen Readers (2007)
Michael L. Printz Award Honor (2007)
Exclusive Books Boeke Prize (2007)
The Quill Award Nominee for Young Adult/Teen (2006)
Teen Read Award Nominee for Best All-Time-Fave (2010), 
Association of Jewish Libraries for Teen Book Award (2006)
Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2010)
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