The Book Thief: Exploring the Power of Words

Markus Zusak's The Book Thief follows a young girl through her life in a poor neighborhood in Germany as she navigates the moral obstacles of World War II.

This was one of the first books that I annotated in-depth, which helped me to connect more with the story. There were quite a few nights where I stayed awake until 3 a.m. before working a morning shift in order to read more about Liesel Meminger's trials and triumphs.

Writing Style

Markus Zusak has a distinctively engaging writing style that allows him to tell such a devastating story about Germany during World War II in a way that simultaneously keeps young readers interested. In this particular novel, Zusak makes a bold choice: he uses death as a narrator. This aspect was difficult for me to wrap my head around as a reader occasionally. It was hard to imagine Death as anything other than an ordinary human based off of his surprisingly relatable perspective. However, it was still quite an interesting point of view and allowed readers to gain critical information about the plot in unique ways, such as through his various "spoilers" and "warnings."

Characters

The characters in this novel are significant because they symbolize a perspective most individuals do not often think about: decent residents of Nazi Germany. Germans are so frequently labeled as pure evil during that period in history that it is easy to forget that some disagreed with Hitler and occasionally even tried to fight back, even if it was in a subtle manner. Liesel and her foster parents did the unthinkable by hiding a Jewish man in their basement. Through her friendship with Max Vandenburg, Liesel was able to truly understand the unfairness of Hitler's actions. Such a kind soul was reduced to huddling in the corner of a dark basement for months simply because one powerful man did not agree with his religion. On another note, Rudy was a colorful character that added a tint of happiness to the devastating story. He transitioned from stealing to giving the bread that he was starving for, showing that good people can exist in such a dark place. Hans Hubermann constantly shows kindness and on more than one occasion risks his entire reputation to help another struggling soul. Liesel's character development is worth witnessing and it is fascinating to think about what extraordinary acts some ordinary citizens of Nazi Germany may have done behind-the-scenes of Hitler's horrors.

Plot

This novel explores themes such as the power of words and the contradictions of human beings. Liesel Meminger slowly learns to read and eventually even writes down her own story. Liesel and Max silently rebel against Hitler by writing a story about their friendship over the pages of Mein Kampf. Max teaches Liesel that without words, Hitler could not have accomplished all that he did. He encouraged her to use words to fight back. At one point, death notes "I see their ugly and their beauty and I wonder how the same thing can be both" in regard to human beings. The exploration of good and evil in humanity is fascinating to see through the thoughts of Death himself.

Markus Zusak

In a reflection after the end of the book, Markus Zusak reveals a bit about his writing process and inspiration. I found it fascinating that a lot of his inspiration for this impactful tale came from his very own parents. They grew up in Nazi Germany and witnessed small acts of rebellion against the Nazi regime throughout their childhood, which they often told their son stories about. It is incredible that he took those stories and created a thought-provoking tale of a young girl struggling to develop her morals in such a corrupt environment.

This is definitely a devastating read, but it has its moments of happiness as well, just like any story. Reading this will take you back in time, and you may even learn how to call someone a pig in German! If you have read The Book Thief, be sure to let us know what you thought in the comments below!