Review: "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

This was our book club choice for July and what a wonderful pick!! To say this story was enjoyable is not the right description although it kept me turning pages. It deals with Nazi Germany and the devastation to not only the Jewish population but also to the German population itself. The story is told from the unique prospective of Death himself. It follows a young girl, Liesel Meminger, who is put in foster care on Himmel Street in Molching, Germany. Already she is no stranger to death as she has witnessed the passing of her younger brother. Her foster family consists of Hans and Rosa Hubermann, although not wealthy or highly educated, they teach her to read and about love and doing the morally correct thing in the face of evil.

The plot of this book was well developed, as were the characters. It follows Liesel’s life and how she is affected by the war and the persecution of the Jewish population. It also gives an in depth look at how the war affected the common person as well as the rich. It brings to light that not all of Germany followed Hitler’s edicts and only did what they had to in order to survive. Many, both young and old, put their selves and their wellbeing in jeopardy in order to help the Jews and others being persecuted.

Although this is not an easy summer beach read, I highly recommend this book. It is fast moving and showcases the effects of World War II on everyone. The narrative is creative and the story is worth reading, just for that!!!