My favorite read in 2008 is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I am a lover of Holocaust books, yet I hesitate to read those books because I dread the heartache I will endure. Yet, The Book Thief kept haunting me, and I succumbed to the book in March. As I opened the book, I read the authors words: “You are going to die.” I soon discovered Death was telling the story. I hesitated to continue, but I moved quickly through the first chapter and soon discovered more about the characters and theme of the book. Liesel Meminger is the main character of the story. As the story begins Liesel, her mother, and young brother are on a train, with an ominous destination: a foster home for Liesel and her brother. The war has taken its toll on Liesel’s family and her mother believes she no longer has the means to care for her children. In an omen like scene, Liesel’s younger brother passes away as she watches him sleep on the train. Liesel’s mother still continues her journey and takes Liesel to her foster home.
Rosa and Hans Huberman, Liesel’s foster parents are already the parents of two grown children. One begins to wonder why they want another child, but it is war time and food and resources are scarce. Liesel and Hans develop a strong bond, from the early days of their time together. Rosa’s relationship with Liesel is strained at best. Liesel has difficulties in school, with both teachers and students. She is behind in her academics and is prone to fighting, even with boys. One thing she can control is her actions and Liesel chooses to steal as a way of coping. Specifically, Liesel steals books. Liesel cannot read and hates school, yet she steals books so that she can learn how to read. Hans and Liesel spend hours with a stolen book, mainly learning to read in the middle of the night. As the relationship between Hans and Liesel strengthens so does Liesel’s reading ability.
There are many twists and turn along the way. Without giving away too much, Hans is a man of deep passion and conscience. During WWI Hans befriended a Jewish soldier and told that soldier if he ever had a need, Hans would help. Twenty something years later, Hans is confronted by the needs of his Jewish friend. The story looks at the relationships of Liesel, Hans and Rosa all through the eyes of the critic, Death. Death’s perspectives are fascinating and raw, yet surprisingly truthful. The story is one of leaning to live, trying to control what is essential for survival, and learning to deal with death.
Liesel is an admirable character, one the reader is sure to love. Her persistence, spunk, and true “guts” are genuine. As I read the book, I understood why Zusak’s book, originally intended for an adult audience is loved by teens. The characters in the story are real, the circumstances in the story are portrayed in vivid prose, and the story itself is mind altering. John Green of the New York Times stated in his review, “Many teenagers will find the story too slow to get going, which is a fair criticism. But it's the kind of book that can be life-changing, because without ever denying the essential amorality and randomness of the natural order, "The Book Thief" offers us a believable, hard-won hope. That hope is embodied in Liesel, who grows into a good and generous person despite the suffering all around her, and finally becomes a human even Death, can love.” Take some time and read The Book Thief. You will think of a time in history that we cannot forget.
