Book Review: The Book Thief

 The Book Thief by Marcus Zuzak

Bibliography -

Zusak, M. (2005). The Book Thief. Knopf.

Plot Summary -

This book follows the main character, Liesel Meminger in 1939 Germany during World War II.  Based on the title, The Book Thief, you follow this young girl in her pursuit for books, but it’s not just that, it is the pursuit of truth, freedom and the opportunity to live. This beautiful story is about the human right to be given the chance to live. So much literature has been written about this revolutionary, devastating time in history, but this book is different. It is light and dark, happy and sad, searching but satisfied.

Critical Analysis -

This book is a beautiful and captivating selection of Young Adult Historical Fiction. It is because it isn’t blatantly in your face Historical Fiction, which can be off putting to some readers as they revert back to a student with a text book. The character development in this book is extraordinary because the author endears you to each character through how they are all interconnected. The events in this book are historically accurate and very much believable by the reader. The historical events are interwoven into the personal happenings of the characters making it all that much more believable. You learn of the suffering and sacrifice this family had to endure to just live and exist. This book makes you want to read more of this time period.

Awards/Accolades -

#1 New York Times Bestseller 

One of Time Magazine's 100 Best YA Book of all Time 

“The kind of book that can be life-changing.” —The New York Times

 “Deserves a place on the same shelf with The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.” —USA Today

Connections -

This book would be amazing to read alongside a nonfiction selection about this time period. 

Do a character study of the characters in this story - can compare alongside real people in history. 

Reflection: Would you have taken the same actions of Liesel Meminger? 

Book Review by Barbara Jean Thompson