Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief is an evocative and heartbreaking novel that interests readers with its unique narrator and rich story line.
Set during Nazi Germany, we follow the story of Liesel Meminger, a girl whose life begins as her mother puts her into foster care, and continues as she adjusts to her new life, builds bonds with those around her and struggles to let go of and understand her old life, all whilst living through the rise of Nazism in Germany.
The story is narrated by Death itself, who knows of her by saving her book from the garbage and reading it.
His observations are haunting, inquisitive and factual, providing a contrast to Liesel who feels easily and can find joy and pain in events joyful or painful.
Death is interested in the lives of humans and their reasons for living as they do, and even more intrigued by the resilience of people like Liesel, who have suffered through wars and are surrounded by deaths, yet continue to find moments of light in dark, eventful lives.
These events include the mass book burning's that removed “non-German” literature from Germany, during which Liesel stole ‘The Shoulder Shrug’ , and Kristallnach (the night of broken glass) through which Liesel met her dear Jewish friend Max.
These brutal events serve as stark reminders of the consequences of hatred and intolerance, whilst continuing to show the resilience of human nature by showing ways in which people can defy the events that could shape them.
Stealing a book from a Nazi Bonfire meant to rid of knowledge can illustrate how a small act of rebellion, resilience and defiance can continue to persist even in times of anger and hatred.
Befriending a person who has been prejudiced by all illustrates the insistence the good in a person can have over the influences around them.
All of the good in the protagonist is contrasted by her thievery and anger early on in the book, showing the complexity of human nature, the concept that intrigued death into saving Liesel's book.
Of the novels many themes, one is the importance of books and storytelling.
Liesel’s relationship with literature becomes a lifeline, offering her solace and comfort amid grief and chaos.
The fourteen books she acquires throughout the story—ten of which hold particular significance, six of which are stolen—symbolise her growth and her defiance against a regime that seeks to control knowledge.
The Grave Digger's Handbook, the first book she steals, establishes the tone for her life ; it is a physical reminder of her deceased brother, a source of inspiration for her love for reading, and the very book that teaches her to read.
For both teenagers and adults, The Book Thief is a once-in-a-lifetime read as the book delves into the themes of human resilience and love in the face of injustice and hatred, a lesson for all.
