BIBLIOGRAPHY
Zusak, Markus. 2006. THE BOOK THIEF. New York : Knopf : Distributed by Random House. ISBN: 0-375-83100-2.
PLOT SUMMARY
Death relates the story of Liesel--a young German girl. Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Liesel helps her family and those around her through her book-stealing and story-telling talents.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Liesel is a young German girl in Germany during World War II. Her story is told by the narrator, Death. We learn about Liesel, the book thief, and the tragedies that have defined her young life. She is taken in by a German couple after she is delivered there by her mother and after the death of her brother. The book thief's first stolen book is a book she finds at her brother's funeral. The reader can easily visualize the settings within the book because of the rich description of color, imagery, description of character feelings, and the emotion that is weaved in to the author's words. The color of the sky, the feel of the air, the visualization of the sadness on people's faces help the reader picture Liesel's world. We learn about the people that come and go from Liesel's life and the refuge that she finds in the books that she steals. The reader glimpses into the life of loss and suffering that permeated this time period. The good and bad of humanity are detailed in Liesel's experiences, but the author expertly balances the tragic with an uplifting undertone throughout the story.
REVIEW EXCERPTS/AWARDS
This book would give a unique point of view experience as an extension book to a unit on World War II for a secondary English class. It could also help bring a youthful perspective and balance to a history course's instructional lessons of World War II.
PLOT SUMMARY
Death relates the story of Liesel--a young German girl. Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Liesel helps her family and those around her through her book-stealing and story-telling talents.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Liesel is a young German girl in Germany during World War II. Her story is told by the narrator, Death. We learn about Liesel, the book thief, and the tragedies that have defined her young life. She is taken in by a German couple after she is delivered there by her mother and after the death of her brother. The book thief's first stolen book is a book she finds at her brother's funeral. The reader can easily visualize the settings within the book because of the rich description of color, imagery, description of character feelings, and the emotion that is weaved in to the author's words. The color of the sky, the feel of the air, the visualization of the sadness on people's faces help the reader picture Liesel's world. We learn about the people that come and go from Liesel's life and the refuge that she finds in the books that she steals. The reader glimpses into the life of loss and suffering that permeated this time period. The good and bad of humanity are detailed in Liesel's experiences, but the author expertly balances the tragic with an uplifting undertone throughout the story.
REVIEW EXCERPTS/AWARDS
KIRKUS REVIEW-STARRED REVIEW "The writing is elegant, philosophical and moving. Even at its length, it's a work to read slowly and savor. Beautiful and important."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL-STARRED REVIEW "Zusak not only creates a mesmerizing and original story but also writes with poetic syntax, causing readers to deliberate over phrases and lines, even as the action impels them forward....An extraordinary narrative."
CONNECTIONS
This book would give a unique point of view experience as an extension book to a unit on World War II for a secondary English class. It could also help bring a youthful perspective and balance to a history course's instructional lessons of World War II.
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