It took some convincing to get me to read this book. I didn’t want to read a book about the Holocaust because I knew I was going to cry at the end of the novel. But, once I started reading The Book Thief I knew that I loved it. It was one of the best pieces of fiction I have read in a while. In fact the book was so good, I feel that in hundreds of years or centuries to come, it will be a required reading to students. What made this story interesting was that it is the alternative view of the Holocaust from stories told in the Jewish person perspective; it made you see through the eyes of German people how their lives where being lived, changed, and destroyed. Everything about the plot was excellent. From the characters, to the situations, to the connections the reader makes with different aspects of the story. I would recommend this book to any fan of other books in the Holocaust time period, like The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and The Diary of Anne Frank. Therefore, I giveThe Book Thief 5 out of 5 well deserved stars.
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, is an endearing story about a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany and the struggles she undergoes throughout her life. The novel is narrated by Death, who tells the story of Liesel Meminger. From age nine, Liesel was separated from her mother and haunted by the death of her brother as she is put into foster care with a couple named Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Here in the town of Molching, Germany, Liesel befriends the boy next door, Rudy Steiner, and begins going to school while taking up help with Rosa’s washing and ironing business. As the story progresses, Liesel realizes that there is something she cannot live without, books and their words. The catalyst of Liesel’s book stealing begins the night her brother dies; Liesel takes the forgotten book from one of the gravediggers. Afterwards, Liesel begins stealing them from Nazi book burnings and from Isla Hermann’s, one of Rosa’s washing and ironing customers, personal library. Eventually, Liesel’s foster father, Han’s, notices the joy Liesel finds from books and helps teach her how to read and write. From this relationship and comfort, Liesel slowly begins to trust her new parents and adjust to her new life. However, Liesel’s life becomes complicated in the November of 1940 when her Mama and Papa start hiding a Jewish man in their basement, Max Vandenburg. At first, Liesel is unsure of whether or not she can trust this foreign man but, the longer Max stays, the more Liesel sees the parallels between them. As the book begins to close, Liesel experiences many different life situations and learns to appreciate her family, friends, and words themselves.
It took some convincing to get me to read this book. I didn’t want to read a book about the Holocaust because I knew I was going to cry at the end of the novel. But, once I started reading The Book Thief I knew that I loved it. It was one of the best pieces of fiction I have read in a while. In fact the book was so good, I feel that in hundreds of years or centuries to come, it will be a required reading to students. What made this story interesting was that it is the alternative view of the Holocaust from stories told in the Jewish person perspective; it made you see through the eyes of German people how their lives where being lived, changed, and destroyed. Everything about the plot was excellent. From the characters, to the situations, to the connections the reader makes with different aspects of the story. I would recommend this book to any fan of other books in the Holocaust time period, like The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and The Diary of Anne Frank. Therefore, I giveThe Book Thief 5 out of 5 well deserved stars.
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AuthorHi! My name is Jackie K. and I'm a high school student who loves reading and reviewing books. I'm one of the biggest book worms you'll ever meet and I hope my book reviews encourage you to read as well! Book Titles
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