The Book Thief

The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak

Reviewed by Robert Dai

Fall 2016

REVIEW: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

THE STORY:

The whole story takes place from 1939 to 1943 during World War 2 in the town Molching, which is in Germany near Munich. The story is told throughout the eyes of a very hardworking sentient being called Death. Although Death watches millions of people and sends them away, it has always kept an eye out for interesting individuals. Individuals such as Liesel Meminger or The Book Thief,
who is a foster child that has been placed in the home of Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Throughout the story, she must learn to cope with her new family and try to obtain books while making new best friends, like Rudy Steiner. She struggles to catch up in school, and tries to cope with the brutality of her new life. To add to the chaos, a mysterious Jew named Max shows up and messes everything up even more. Max Vandenburg is a Jew that has made a deal with Hans to keep him safe in his house. Liesel struggles to keep her personal life normal while breaking the law and keeping a Jew in her house. She continues to obtain books no matter the circumstance. This helps her develop relationships with Max, Hans, Rosa, Rudy, the Mayor’s Wife, and all her friends. Even though life couldn’t seem more complicated, things turn worse as Max’s identity goes from almost being shown to him going into a coma, and from close family members being sent to war to friends dying of war. Liesel and her family also struggle to make money, survive, and to keep a low profile as their town is suddenly a target to bombs, leaving Liesel to once again muster up courage and try to survive and save her family and friends. (290)

MY OPINION:

I went into the book thinking that it was going to be very dark because of the World War 2 setting, and that it was going to be very challenging to read because my seventh grade teacher recommended to me that I read this book in a few years, as she said it was very difficult to understand. Yet from the start, I was very into the book as it had a very interesting way of conveying the story, and how things were described to me. The story is very good at explaining in detail and using figurative language. It has multiple signs of symbolism and interesting themes, with a sometimes humorous yet mostly dark tone. The book hooks you amazingly well, always revealing a new problem when another seems like it has settled down. It also has great character development and characterization. The only problem I had with the book is that there are some words that are very advanced, and a kind of confusing ending. I would recommend this book to students middle school and above, as it contains vulgar language, which is mostly in German, and dark events and situations. I would read this book again if I could go back in time, and I would give this book a nine and a half stars out of ten. (221)

STUDY QUESTIONS AND VOCABULARY:

FIRST SECTION

1. What does Liesel notice in the snow and pick up, and why is it significant?

1a. She notices a book in the snow dropped by one of the grave diggers. This is significant because it is the first book that she has stolen, which will start a series of events. (pg. 24)

2. Where is Liesel’s foster home, and who are her foster parents?

2a. Her foster home is located in a small town on the outskirts of Munich, called Molching. Her foster home is on Himmel, or Heaven Street. Her foster parents are Hans and Rosa Hubermann. (pg. 25-27 )

3. Who and how does Liesel meet her best friend?

3a. Her best friend is Rudy Steiner. She meets him through a soccer game played by all the neighborhood kids. (pg. 45-48)

4. Why is the relationship between Hans Hubermann and his son Hans Junior so aggressive?

4a. Because Hans Junior chose to be a Nazi and support Germany, while Hans Hubermann chose to oppose it, being called “Der Fuchen Moler”, or the Jew Painter, after a specific incident that involved the Nazi party and a Jewish Man. (pg. 104-105)

5. What happens between Liesel and the Mayor’s Wife?

5a. The Mayor’s Wife notices Liesel taking a book from a book burning. As a result, the next time Hazel visits her house for laundry, she invites her in to read. (pg. 121-122, 133-137)

echelons (pg. 25)

cynicism (pg. 69)

fervent (pg. 93)

despondently (pg. 143)

gangly (pg. 178)

MIDDLE SECTION

6. Who comes to Liesel’s home on November 1940, and asks Hans to take him in?

6a. A 24 year old Jewish man that goes by the name of Max Vandenburg. (pg.185)

7. On Liesel’s twelfth birthday, February 1941, what did she get?

7a. Liesel received another book that was used, and it was called the Mud Men. (pg. 221)

8. What happens between the Mayor’s Wife and Liesel?

8a. The Mayor’s Wife has to tell Liesel that she has to fire Rosa and tries to give her a book as an apology. This sends Liesel into a mad fit of rage, and causes her to spill out all of her angry feeling and thoughts onto her. She then throws the book on the ground. With these inappropriate acts, The Mayor’s Wife doesn’t know what to do, and Liesel decides to never come back to read. (pg. 251-253)

9. What happens to Max during February?

9a. His conditions start becoming worrisome, and he eventually faints. He is taken care of while in a coma in Liesel’s room. (pg. 314)

10. What happens after Liesel injures herself?

10a. A Nazi official comes to their house to see if their basement is Air-Raid Shelter appropriate, almost revealing that they are hiding Max. (pg. 340-346)

trounced (pg. 188)

machinations (pg. 243)

dividend (pg. 247)

microcosm (pg. 274)

breadth (pg. 349)

                               

LAST SECTION

11. What did Liesel and Rudy find in the dictionary they stole from the Mayor’s house?

11a. They found a letter from the Mayor’s wife, explaining that she was sorry for what she did, and the she knows she is stealing books from her. (pg. 368-369)

12. What comes in the mail that is directed towards Hans Hubermann?

12a. A letter informing him that his application to join the NSDAP has been approved, and that he also must join the army. (pg. 417)

13. What happens to Michael Holtzapfel’s brother?

13a. His brother dies from injuries from war, and Michael stayed with him till he died on the hospital bed. This eventually leads Michael to later commit suicide, which also acts as a catalyst for his family to eventually all die. (pg. 467)

14. What happens between Liesel and Max that makes them separate?

14a. Max is forced, with the other Jews, to march away to Dachau. (pg. 515)

15. What happens to Liesel and her home, Molching, after the bombs came?

15a. The city is bombarded with bombs, resulting in damaged building and broken landscapes. Liesel survives, but finds out Rosa and Hans Hubermann have died, along with Rudy Steiner. (pg. 534-539)

procession (pg. 377)

avid (pg. 409)

ecstatic (pg. 479)

semblance (pg. 482)

feigned (pg. 530)