The Book Thief 

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Author: Markus Zusak
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Released: 2005
Pages: 550
Genre: Young Adult
5 cups

“It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

By her brother’s graveside, Liesel Meminger finds her life changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Grave Digger’s Handbook, left there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordion-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor’s wife’s library, wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel’s foster family hides a Jewish man in their basement, Liesel’s world is both opened up and closed down.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.”

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For the sake of full disclosure, I broke the cardinal book-lovers rule of watching the film version on this book before reading it. In my defense, I didn’t know that two years later it would be recommended to me as part of my “Book I’m Most Thankful to Have Read in 2015” challenge. So  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Despite all that, reading The Book Thief was incredible.

The Good:

Everything works in this book.

First off, the writing is stunning. It’s not often that I come across a young adult book that is phenomenally written.  Often times the quality of writing is sacrificed for sake plot speed or dialogue. Zusak balances story tension with beautiful crafted phrases that left me laughing and crying (read: a lot of crying. Books set in WWII generally do that to you.)

Secondly, the characters are beautifully flawed and fiercely believable. Zusak takes the time to craft each of his characters and allow them to grow throughout the story.

Thirdly, the story is deeply moving, but not too heavy to be enjoyable. Zusak balances the very real tension of life in WWII and mixes it humor and excitement. I consumed this book in two days because I simply could not put it down. I would have read it faster if I hadn’t been pulled away by my family to “socialize.” (Rude.)

The Bad(ish):

The book is narrated by the personification of “Death,” and because of that, “Death” sometimes speaks directly to the reader in asides. My dad began to read this book and found this type of narration distracting. I, however, took no issue in it.

Summary: This book is a must for any reader’s library.