“How about a kiss, Saumensch?” The
Book Thief is anything but a traditional tale about Nazi Germany. After the
FΓΌrer steals her father, mother and
brother, Liesel finds ways to steal back.
She is sent to a new home with a mouthy mamma, an accordion father, and
a Hitler-boxing Jew. With
partner-in-crime Rudy Steiner, the rowdy neighborhood boy who has a big thing
for Liesel, she steals apples, cookies and candy. But Liesel’s real passion is for stealing books. At first, words are a challenge and a
curiosity to the young, misplaced girl.
They grow to be a part of Leisel each night as her new father reads her
stolen books aloud. The words he reads awaken something in Liesel. Tucked into
the basements of Molching, Germany, Liesel’s read, spoken and written words
become more powerful than air raids and bombs. Markus Zusak explores the
unconventional and diverse shapes hope and love take during war and suffering,
where “filthy pig” is a term of endearment and a young boy paints himself black
like his track star hero, Jesse Owens.
Just as
death loomed over Nazi Germany during WWII, Death takes center stage in The Book Thief. In fact, it is through death’s eyes that we
learn about Liesel, her foster family and her affinity for words. Death’s voice is subtle enough to keep the
reader focused on the story rather than the formal elements, and unique enough
to captivate the reader’s attention. It
is also through death’s eyes that Zusak creates astounding imagery like tomato
soup skies and hair the color of lemons. Zusak’s imagery is distinctively
mesmerizing. As if the story weren’t
compelling enough, the novel’s imagery continually shocks, enthralls and
enchants the reader. At the heart of this haunting yet inspirational novel is
the horror of a nation that decided it was alright to parade starved, skeletal
Jews through cities, to burn children in front of their mothers, and to degrade
and torture men, women and children in the most vile of ways.
The Book Thief will speak to high-schoolers
and adults alike. Zusak’s treatment of the novel’s heavier themes is neither
graphic nor sheltered. Its language and characters will compel any reader to
carefully reflect upon the human condition during the Holocaust. Through Liesel
Meminger, her passion for words, and her understated hope, any reader will give
heartfelt consideration to the strength of the individual and quiet heroism.
