The Book Thief by Markus Zusak / An historical fiction novel

Bibliographic Information: Zusak, M. (2006). The book thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Plot Description: This widely acclaimed historical novel is set in 1939 Nazi Germany and narrated from the perspective of Death, an omniscient character describing the world around him. From the publisher: "Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time."

Quantitative Reading Level: Lexile Level: 730L

Qualitative Reading Analysis: This novel is complex, given the subject matter and point of view. The story, which takes place in the heavy times of WWII Germany, is narrated by the invisible character of Death. Readers should have a grasp of the events of WWII and the devastating impact of the Holocaust. The narration is from a fly-on-the-wall perspective and is mainly focused on Liesel, the "book thief". The narration is not the only irregular feature of the book--the text itself is unconventional, with font shifting to bold and italic to emphasize the frequent prosaic interludes, and each part heading includes a list of descriptive labels for upcoming events in the book. The center of the book features several pages of black and white ink drawings with an accompanying handwritten story printed over some ghost pages of Mein Kampf. The chapter descriptions and interludes are brief and rather cryptic, and the language is nuanced and often philosophical, making this a book best suited for upper high school readers (11th and 12th grades) who are comfortable reading sophisticated literature. Chapters are both long and short, frequently divided by smaller stories within the larger story landscape. Character development and themes are additional complex aspects of the book, as they develop over time and illustrate various emotions in depth (such as death, loss, grief, fear, survival). Suspense abounds in the form of the family hiding a Jewish citizen from the Nazis, giving the book a tense tone that can be appreciated by  high school readers.  

Content Area: English, reading

Content Area Standard: CCSS English Language Arts Grades 11-12

1.  Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.

2. Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text.

3. Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters/archetypes are introduced and developed). 

4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful.  

5. Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure specific parts of a text (e.g., the choice of where to begin or end a story, the choice to provide a comedic or tragic resolution) contribute to its overall structure and meaning as well as its aesthetic impact. 

6. Analyze a case in which grasping point of view requires distinguishing what is directly stated in a text from what is really meant (e.g., satire, sarcasm, irony, or understatement).

 

Curriculum Suggestions: The Book Thief would make a great pairing with nonfiction historical materials on WWII and the Holocaust. It would also work well paired with The Diary of Anne Frank, as a modern literary take on a family's brave choice to hide Jews from the Nazis. Good discussions may be had on metaphor in the book, particularly the metaphor of stealing books.

Links to Supporting Digital Content:
The PG-13 movie version of The Book Thief available as a DVD or Amazon Instant Video

Awards:
Winner of the Michael L. Printz Honor Book Award

Winner of the National Jewish Book Award
A Quill Award nominee
A Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Review's Editor's Choice
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Booklist Best Book of the Year