Author: Markus Zusak
Read by: Allan Corduner
Title: The Book Thief
Publication Date: 2006
Time: 13 hrs 57 mins
Part of a Series: No
Subject Heading(s):
- Death
- Friendship
- Hans
- Himmel Street
- Holocaust
- Huberman
- Jews
- Liesel Meminger
- Nazis
- Rudy
- Steiner
- WWII
*Subject headings by the reviewer
Geographical Setting/ Time Period: Germany, outside Munich 1939-1945
Main Character(s):
- Liesel Meminger: smart and gutsy girl who learns to read, among other things.
- Hans Huberman: Kind, gentle, and steady, Liesel’s foster father.
- Rosa Huberman: Profane and gruff, but loving, Liesel’s foster mother.
- Rudy Steiner: Smart aleck, fearless, Liesel’s best friend.
- Max Vandenburg: Haunted but kind Jewish man who hides in the Huberman’s basment.
- Death: slightly scary, slightly funny, narrator of the story.
Plot Summary: This story follows Liesel Meminger as she grows up in a foster family outside of Munich before and during WWII. The story is defined by the books that come into Liesel’s life, some of which are given to her, and some she steals. The story is as much small things as big things. The small things surround the big things, a hidden Jew in the Huberman’s basement, the terror and hardships of WWII, and trying to hold together a family.
Appeal: Style: Narrated by an interesting character Death. Tone: Bittersweet, but sometimes playful. Pacing: Steady
Brief quote: “100 meters” he goaded her, ”I bet you can’t beat me”.
Liesel wasn’t taking any of that. “I bet you I can.”
“What you bet you little saumensch? Have you got any money?”
“Of course not, do you?”
“No…” But Rudy had an idea. It was the lover boy coming out of him. “If I beat you, I get to kiss you.” He crouched down and began rolling up his trousers. Liesel was alarmed, to put it mildly. “What do you want to kiss me for? I’m filthy!” Chapter 2, 1:13-1:14:29(time).
Liesel wasn’t taking any of that. “I bet you I can.”
“What you bet you little saumensch? Have you got any money?”
“Of course not, do you?”
“No…” But Rudy had an idea. It was the lover boy coming out of him. “If I beat you, I get to kiss you.” He crouched down and began rolling up his trousers. Liesel was alarmed, to put it mildly. “What do you want to kiss me for? I’m filthy!” Chapter 2, 1:13-1:14:29(time).
Awards:
- Horn Book Fanfare,
- 2006 Kirkus Reviews Editor Choice,
- 2006 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year,
- 2006 Daniel Elliot Peace Award,
- 2006 Publisher’s Weekly Best Children’s Book of the Year,
- 2006 Booklist Children Editors’ Choice,
- 2006 Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book,
- 2007 Boeke Prize,
- 2007 ALA Best Books for Young Adults,
- 2007Michael L. Prinz Honor Book,
- 2007 Book Sense Book of the Year,
- 2009 Pacific Northwest Young Readers Choice Master List
Similar Works:
Number the Stars by Lowis Lowry- Holocaust theme, young adult
Reviewer’s Name: Amanda Hegge
Form acdapted from Saricks, Joyce G. and Nancy Brown. Readers’ Advisory Service in the Public Library 2nd. Chicago: ALA, 1997.
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