This book will enchant you with its powerful language, its intelligent portrayal of the feisty character of Liesel Meminger and her deeply profound story set against the Holocaust.
The war had already begun for the people on Himmel Street in Molching when nine-year-old Liesel is sent to live with the Hubermans. Hans Huberman, her foster father helps her overcome her fear of reading and a trauma her young mind has yet to contend with. Rosa, her foster mother loves her in spite of her outbursts of verbal profanity. Liesel even finds her soul mate in Rudy Steiner, the lemon haired boy who aspires to be the next Jesse Owens.
The author has interwoven a vast of array of characters, each distinctive and clearly defined with an integral part to play in this amazing narrative. For example, Death the narrator of the story although a nonconcrete entity, is very believable a character. Death provides brief snatches of information that act as a precursor of events to come. It is Death who gives Liesel the moniker of 'The Book Thief' because of her penchant for stealing books.
My favourite part of the book is the story 'The Standover Man' written by Max Vandenberg. Max is a Jew in hiding and the storybook is a gift to Liesel that he writes on scraps of painted over paper that he tears from Hitler's Mein Kampf.
This is a book you will want to read again or read aloud to enjoy its many nuances. It is sophisticated, as it is refined.
This book has a lot to offer to senior secondary students in terms of its characterisation, its very effective use of language and its dealings with subjects of conflict, survival, and identity.
By Janice Rodrigues
The war had already begun for the people on Himmel Street in Molching when nine-year-old Liesel is sent to live with the Hubermans. Hans Huberman, her foster father helps her overcome her fear of reading and a trauma her young mind has yet to contend with. Rosa, her foster mother loves her in spite of her outbursts of verbal profanity. Liesel even finds her soul mate in Rudy Steiner, the lemon haired boy who aspires to be the next Jesse Owens.
The author has interwoven a vast of array of characters, each distinctive and clearly defined with an integral part to play in this amazing narrative. For example, Death the narrator of the story although a nonconcrete entity, is very believable a character. Death provides brief snatches of information that act as a precursor of events to come. It is Death who gives Liesel the moniker of 'The Book Thief' because of her penchant for stealing books.
My favourite part of the book is the story 'The Standover Man' written by Max Vandenberg. Max is a Jew in hiding and the storybook is a gift to Liesel that he writes on scraps of painted over paper that he tears from Hitler's Mein Kampf.
This is a book you will want to read again or read aloud to enjoy its many nuances. It is sophisticated, as it is refined.
This book has a lot to offer to senior secondary students in terms of its characterisation, its very effective use of language and its dealings with subjects of conflict, survival, and identity.
By Janice Rodrigues
2 comments:
I enjoyed it as a great read, especially the use of death as the narrator. I agree it would be suitable for senior secondary students, especially those studying the Holocaust for History.
i loved this book i think it was a very well written and a great read it really shakes your foundations.it is an a apporpriate book for secondary students to adults
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