The Book Thief

The Book Thief

 Zusak, M. (2005).  The Book Thief. NY:  Alfred A. Knopf. Liesel goes to live with Rosa and Hans Hubermann on Himmel Street when Hitler was in power.  She watched her brother die, did not know the future of her mother, and stole her first book.   Liesel's family risk their lives and hide Max, a Jewish man in their basement.  Readers will laugh, cry, and be tormented by the images in this Printz Award winning book. Liesel's character changes so much throughout this story.  At the very beginning, she refuses to get out of the car to meet her new family. However, she quickly falls in love with her new Papa as he saves her from her nightmares and teaches her to read and write.  At first, she is embarrassed in front of her classmates because she is not a fluent reader. She diligently reads to Max when he is ill.  Then, she comforts her neighbor and earns coffee for her family by reading aloud.  During bombings, she keeps everyone calm by reading to them in a basement.  There are many acts of Liesel's bravery.  For example, she gives bread to the Jews walking through town.  She purposely gets herself injured in a soccer game when they are inspecting basements. She is brave when she steals the books.  The description of the book smoking under her jacket is priceless.  What I connect to most is the friendships she made.  She didn't let her past define her future.  She made close friendships with Max and Rudy.  The friendship that she makes the mayor's wife thankfully provides her with a future.  The narration of death makes you wonder about what is fair in death. How can some people survive and others die? The setting is on Himmel Street which means Heaven.  This has an irony that readers must think of throughout the story.  There are loving families on this street, but they are starving, and in fear of bombings. After my first read of this book, I visited the Holocaust Museum in Houston with my son's sixth grade World Cultures class.  I was not able to sleep for days.  Then, I read several books related to the holocaust.  It made me think of my Uncle Nick who wanted to stop me from reading Anne Frank when I was little.  He was Jewish and didn't want me to be sad around Christmas time.  He had a love for me like Papa did for Liesel.   This is one of my favorite books, and I recommend it all the time!

Lesson Plans:
http://thebookthiefyalit.blogspot.com/p/lesson-plan-ideas.html

Discussion Questions:
http://www.readinggroupguides.com/reviews/the-book-thief/guide

Trailer and Interview:
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/markuszusak/