Powerful Words

This post is a long time coming...

When he first penned The Book Thief, Marcus Zusak could not have known the phenomenon it would become. Set in Nazi Germany during World War II, Zusak’s novel is tragic, yet it should be cherished. While The Book Thief deals with hardship and heartache, it does so with sensitivity and insight. Zusak’s protagonist, Liesel Meminger, is a young girl whose life is changing. Her parents were communists, and they were taken away from her. While traveling on a train to her foster parents, her brother died. During the course of the novel, her foster parents hide a Jew. Max Vandenburg and Liesel establish a friendship. Adapting to her new life, she develops a need for words. Liesel longs to read; her longing translates into book thievery. In Liesel’s world, these words become very important. Liesel’s story is hard. It is not light; it is not fluffy. It is arduous. With every page, the reader is reminded of the grievous effects of World War II. It is then very appropriate that Death narrates Liesel’s tale.

Liesel’s tale is universal. While Zusak may have written The Book Thief for young adults, adults can enjoy this heartwarming story too. In fact, adults may appreciate it more. Middle-school readers may find The Book Thief too disturbing; the fear and violence may be inappropriate for young children. However, high-school students can (and should) read about Nazis Germany. Markus Zusak’s story may be the perfect combination of a history and literature study for these students. Young women may prefer to read The Book Thief more than young men because of a female protagonist. Though, these same young men may identify with Rudy or Max. As an adult reader, I loved The Book Thief. Initially, I found it hard to warm up to. However, given the chance, The Book Thief charmed me. I am almost sorry that I had never read it before; The Book Thief would have been the perfect addition to my homeschool curriculum.

The Book Thief deals with the bombing of Germany, the Holocaust, and lots of death. While it is terribly tragic, The Book Thief is very moving. Zusak’s prose is dynamic and effective. I cannot help but agree with Max, “The best word shakers were the ones who understood the true power of words” (445). Understanding the power of words is a lesson we should all learn whether young adults or not.