The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

Summary The Book Thief is about a young German girl named Liesel Meminger. It all begins when she and her brother are taken to their new family. Her brother suddenly drops dead, and by his graveside she steals her first book, The Gravedigger’s Handbook. Her mother says goodbye for the last time and she is left alone with her new parents, Rosa and Hans Hubermann. She immediately loves Hans but it takes a while to love her foster mother. Soon Liesel sees how much Rosa does love her-she just has an odd way of showing affection. Her next door neighbor, Rudy Steiner, becomes her best friend. She steals a few books here and there, and Hans is giving her reading/writing lessons. Just as everything seems to be going well, Adolf Hitler becomes more powerful. Hitler is hunting for the Jews, and luckily Liesel and the Hubermanns are Lutherans, but that does not mean they side with the German leader. In fact, they hide a Jew in their basement. Once they do this, the Hubermanns lives become more dangerous, yet for Liesel the words will greatly inspire her. Answers to her many questions, such as what happened to her father and why her mother had to leave her will be answered. Then even more sudden events appear, and life itself changes for Liesel Meminger, the book thief.

Genre The genre of The Book Thief is historical fiction. It also includes action, friendship, and adventure here and there. These genres appeal to me because I want to know more about real events such as World War II. I like learning about the event through characters I get to know by reading. Action brings excitement. In some occasions, sadness is brought with action as well. Adventure creates a thrill and a rush. I always want to know what happens next.

Setting The Book Thief takes place in Munich, Germany during the late 1930s to 40s. During this time Adolf Hitler is Germany’s leader and WW II starts. The Book Thief is set over a period of about 7 years, not including the epilogue. Munich, Germany

Conflict The main issues in The Book Thief revolve around World War 2 and the Holocaust. When the Hubermanns hide Max in their basement, their lives become much more dangerous. If you were a Jew in Germany in the 1940s, you’re “toast”. The Nazis will find you in mere seconds and take you to “camp”. I don’t mean summer camp where you make cute little crafts and swim in the lake and eat junk food. I mean concentration camps. For hiding a Jew, you’d be serverly punished. Not only does the Holocaust and WWII affect the Hubermanns and Max, but the holocaust and World War II change all of Europe. War brings death. Jewish book-burnings bring pain and sorrow…and more opportunity to steal books for Liesel. Not only does Liesel steal from the burnings, but also from the mayor’s house.

Characters

Liesel is dropped off at her foster family’s house when she is nine. She has blond hair and brown eyes. In Germany, brown eyes are dangerous. Liesel has a love affair with books. She steals them from the mayor’s library often and in the process of doing that forms a bond with Isla Hermann, the mayor’s wife. Rudy, her next door neighbor, is her best friend. Together they steal apples and books. She becomes good friends with the Jew smuggled in her basement, Max. The two of them both love books and words. Liesel immediantly knows she will love her foster father, Hans. Over a short period of time she loves Rosa as well. Liesel Meminger

Hans Hubermann Hans Hubermann was a kind, lovable man. He played the accordion and painted for a living. Hans was in trouble with the Nazi Party (political group) because he painted a Jew’s house. Hans Hubermann was the husband of Rosa Hubermann, the father of Hans Hubermann Jr., and Trudy Hubermann. He also was the loving foster father of Liesel. Hans Hubermann served in WWI. During the time he was deployed he became best friends with Erik Vandenburg. Erik saved Hans’ life at one point and by doing that, Erik lost his own. After the war ended, Hans went to Erik’s family and gave them a slip of paper with a name and an address: Hans Hubermann, 33 Himmel Street. He said if the Jewish family ever needed help to go there.

Max Vandenburg Max Vandenburg is the Jew the Hubermanns hide in their basement. When Max was a boy he liked to get in fist fights. He always lost, yet one time he beat another boy, Walter. The two became good friends. Later in his life, Max needed help. The holocaust was beginning, and he needed refuge. He searched for his old friend and Walter found the best he could. Walter found the old place where he used to work and was shut down. Max was to stay in a room there until all was well and he would be safe. For a long time Max stayed in a small, locked room in fear of a Nazi finding him. He only ate when Walter brought him food, which was not often. He rarely slept because he was afraid that when he woke up there would be a Nazi standing over him. The time came where they both feared someone would soon find him. Now came the time where the Vandenburgs would use the slip of paper Hans Hubermann had given them. On train, Max traveled to 33 Himmel Street and found the Hubermanns. Max slept for three days. For a long while, Liesel did not particularly like Max because she did not get to know him. But she did not know all what was to come. Liesel and Max became good friends later on. They both adore books and words. The two also like to fist fight (not with each other), and have ridden on trains. Also, they both have horrible nightmares about their pasts.

Rudy Steiner Rudy Steiner had hair the color of lemons. He was obsessed with Jesse Owens, leading to the Jesse Owens incident. And more than anything, Rudy loved Liesel.

Isla Hermann Isla Hermann is the mayor’s wife. She is one of Rosa’s customers in the laundry business. She owns a large library filled with words. Words that will intrigue Liesel. Liesel will steal from the library-and when Isla finds out, she will react in another way than you would except. Isla Hermann is a kind, yet sad woman with wispy hair and a lack of talking. When at home, she always appears in a bathrobe. Isla Hermann’s son died in World War I and she still grieves. Liesel and Isla will change both each other through an unlikely bond.

Adolf Hitler Although Hitler never appears in the book (he is only mentioned), he plays a hugely important part in the story. Without him, the holocaust and World War II would not have taken part in the world and basically the story would be nothing.

My Review Personally I have found The Book Thief as the absolute best, most beautiful, inspiring book I have ever read. Multiple times I could relate with Liesel. I have never cried while reading a book, but to be honest, I did while reading The Book Thief (…actually only tears formed in my eyes-so I never cried…it’s not that I’m heartless, honestly I would have broken down in tears but for some reason I simple couldn’t). I was amazed by the story.

Intended Audiences The Book Thief is intended for young adult readers, teens, tweens, or adults*. It contains violence. *Note: If you cry easily, you should buy a few boxes of tissues before reading this.

Connections Text to World: The Holocaust was a real event in history. So was World War II. Things mentioned in this book (Jews marching off to concentration camps, World War II bomb shelter, etc.) were real. Text to Self: When we had the fire drill the first time this year, I got sort of freaked out because the alarms were flashing and the sound was much more louder than it was in elementary school. Once we got out in the hallway I looked around. Everyone was marching in single file line (well not everyone) and the alarms were “screaming” as loud as ever and flashing. I thought about the bomb sirens in The Book Thief. The marching in single file lines made me think of the Nazis marching as Hitler sends then off to war. This week as I was walking back to lunch the teachers were watching us and making sure we were staying in line. Band kids were playing music (which sounded like a Nazi anthem) and as I “marched” I once more thought about the Nazis. The teachers watching us walk was like how Hitler inspected the Nazis as they marched off. The only difference was that we did not hail them. Text to Text: I am currently reading Prisoner B-3087, which is about a young Jewish boy during the 1940s (I haven’t gotten that far).

Main Idea The main idea of The Book Thief is how important words can be. Without them, life seems to be bland and tasteless. Also, it shows how you shouldn’t care or judge a person just by their “label”. Liesel loves Max even though he’s Jewish. In the back of the book (in an interview), Markus Zusak explained he wanted readers to really think about the Holocaust and look further into it.

“ ” Here is a small fact: You are going to die. -Markus Zusak, The Book Thief One thing I like most about The Book Thief is that it is narrated by death. Most people don’t tend to think about death being like a person. Having emotions. Death is not a cruel, heartless beast who wishes you dead. This may seem odd, but death cares. He is saddened when he sees humans, their bodies at the end of their lives. He carries their souls off and away. Oddly enough, death becomes attached to Liesel in particular. And according to death, no, war and death are not best friends as some say. Oh, and also…he is haunted by humans.

Liesel Meminger, The Book Thief