Zusak: The Book Thief
Zusak: the Book Thief
The book thief is the alter-ego of a nine-year-old girl called Liesel, whose life history is narrated by none other than the Grim Reaper himself. Now Liesel has both the misfortune to be raised alongside the burgeoning Nazi state in Germany and the good fortune to be sheltered from it by a vehemently anti-Fascist family, the Hubermanns.
Much of the novel revolves around Liesel’s surprisingly normal childhood, in which Nazi book burnings, Hitler Youth and the persecution of the Jews are merely a backdrop to the main events in her life, such as stealing books and forbidden apples.
However, all this changes when her father’s long-forgotten wartime promise comes to fruition and a desperate Jew lands in their basement. Unwittingly, Liesel finds herself thrust into the front line against the all-too-real hatred of the Nazi state.
Check availablity on the East Renfrewshire Libraries’ catalogue
Long and clever story. I wondered if I would finish it, but once I started reading it was hard to put down. The concept was very clever, telling it from ‘death’s view’The family sacrifices, cultural impact of the war and the persecution were all related so well in the story. The relationships of all the boys in the story and the people Liesel comes in contact with is funny and sad and reflects life.
Enjoyed the story.