Group Discussion: The Book Thief

Hello my readers!

Today I'm posting a reflection of my group's discussion of Markus Zusak's novel The Book Thief.  If you have not read the book, there will be spoilers in this post.  You have been warned.

The Book Thief takes place in a German town during World War II.  It's great in that it gives a different aspect of World War II from the typical view we as readers get in the world of fiction.  Instead of focusing on the Nazis and on the death camps, The Book Thief instead focuses on what life was like for a family living in the thick of it.  It shows things like how survival depended on being part of the Nazi party even if someone didn't agree or believe in it, and the risks involved with day to day life.  It shows that there are two sides to every story and that to save yourself, sometimes impossible choices must be made.

One of the biggest things about The Book Thief is the use of narrator.  Death is our narrator through the novel and acts as an omnipresent force remembering his time during the war.  Zusak has Death repeat ideas and themes throughout the book, telling readers about things before they happen.  When I read The Book Thief, I felt a little frustrated with this because for me, it didn't make things such as bombings and character deaths leave as much of an impact.  But through group discussion, it came to light that by having Death foreshadow and repeat so much actually allows young adult readers to absorb the full impact of the situation more.  They see it coming and they still have to experience it.  Now that I understand that technique, I'm planning on re-reading the book.

Another interesting thing about The Book Thief is the title.  Yes, the main character steals books.  But Zusak is referring to more than just her.  The story is full of people who steal books.  Max, the Jew that Lisel's family takes in, has a stolen copy of Mein Kampf that he ends up writing a new story over.  Lisel of course steals books.  And even Hitler, through organized book burnings, stole books during the war.  If you look at The Book Thief with those thoughts in mind, it opens a whole other dimension to the tale.

Through our discussion, my group ultimately decided that The Book Thief is like an onion.  It has so many layers that you need to read it multiple times.  Each time you read it, your experiences and knowledge causes it to add another dimension of meaning.  It's a great book that makes World War II accessible to young adults in a way that is more meaningful and intimate than a documentary or textbook can do.

The Book Thief is a fantastic read that I would recommend to anyone in high school or beyond.

What do you think, dear readers?

~Meaghan