The Book Thief---Stealing Back Freedom

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is the story of a young girl in Germany in the midst of World War II. What separates this wonderful book from the World War II novels that have come before it is that it has a unique narrator: Death. Zusak’s “Death” is not the normal grim-reaper character that one would usually imagine. In fact, this “Death” is a compassionate, but dutiful worker who has quite a difficult and labor intensive job carrying away the souls of those who fall victim to the war. “Death” is intrigued by the story of reader Liesel Meminger.

It is hard to explain The Book Thief without giving away parts of the book and it is so good, I want readers to discover the book on their own, so I’ll do my best to keep this with few spoilers. Liesel has been sent to live with foster parents from a young age. She and her family do their best to stay true to their own beliefs in an environment that hardly allows them to do so. How do you maintain your freedom in a society that takes that right away from you? Liesel attempts to find a way. She becomes a thief, of books specifically. She “acquires” these novels from all over, from a graveside to the Mayor’s own library.

Liesel is a really good protagonist. She reminded me a lot of Sara Crewe from the film (and novel) A Little Princess, which is one of my personal favorites, therefore probably explains my attachment. Both girls use the power of stories to help bring hope to the upsetting situations they find themselves in. Liesel is a wonderful combination of youthful wonder and innate wisdom. She is a child doing her best to grow-up and find herself in horrific times. Liesel is inspiration for many young girls in her courage and her ability to care about other human beings.

Parent/Teacher Advisory: It should be noted that although this is a YA novel in America, in Australia, where the author is from, this was a novel intended for adults. Considering who the narrator is and the time period, it should be obvious that there are many deaths in the novel. It is not necessarily a novel for the faint of heart, but the story is so powerful that it is worth hearing. The violence is entirely necessary to explain the direness of the situation. That said, the novel is very sad. The tragic storyline and the length of the novel (it’s over 500 pages long—but it goes by REALLY fast) are something to consider before recommending to younger readers.

Overall Recommendation: The Book Thief is not only one of the best YA books I have read recently, it is also one of the best novels I have read this year…period. It is so good I cannot find the right words to explain it. This is ironic because that is what the novel is all about: the power of words. Language and words were tools used to bring about hate and destruction in Nazi Germany; however, they are also the devices that help Liesel rebel and bring hope and a small amount of freedom to herself and those closest to her. It is a powerful examination about the impact of books and the importance of reading and that is a message that it I hope girls take away from The Book Thief. It is an excellent lesson for everyone to learn.

I Am the Messenger—But what is the message?

I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak is a fun, yet poignant novel about a young man finding his purpose. Our protagonist is a nineteen year-old cab driver named Ed Kennedy. When we first meet Ed, his life is not going very well. He is stuck in a dead end job, he has fractured relationships with his family, and he has good friends, but they are sort of trapped going through the motions in the same way that Ed is. Then one day a mysterious card arrives on Ed’s door, an ace of diamonds and his life changes forever.

The reader follows Ed as he “protects the diamonds”, “survives the clubs”, “digs deep through the spades” and “feels the hearts”. Ed learns some powerful life lessons and his story and those involved on his journey are heart-warming. I don’t want to say much else about the plot because it all hinges on the mystery of who is sending Ed the cards (or does it?...hmm).

Girls will have fun traversing the clues Ed is given and trying to solve his mystery alongside him. I also found the character of Audrey very interesting. Audrey is one of Ed’s best friends and the object of Ed’s affection. Unfortunately, she does not return his affections (or so she tells him). Audrey is interesting. She could have been another girl-on-a –pedestal character, but Zusak does a good job of shaping her character. She is flawed and has a bit of a wild/flighty tendency, but Ed drops hints that she had trouble in her past and her own comments suggest that she is a broken soul that wants to mend, but just isn’t quite ready to yet. The way she pushes Ed away because she cares about him too much is an emotion that I think a lot of girls are familiar with.

Parent/Teacher Advisory: There are some briefs discussions about sex, but nothing super explicit. It is most just Ed pinning for Audrey (teen boy drama). Also, there are a couple of scenes of violence. Ed’s mission requires him to do some things that would normally be considered too violent, but I think the novel does a good job of showing the consequences of violence to counter-act its usage in the novel.

Overall Recommendation: I Am the Messenger is a lovely story. Ed is a witty and insight narrator and it is fun to follow him on his journey. The clues are great. It is like solving a new puzzle with every new playing card. Some of the messages might be a little cheesy and the hearts section might be a little obvious, but sometimes you need a story like that. You need a story that makes you believe in the small things in life, the small moments where you can make a difference. Ed learns this lesson and many more. I’m sure girls will benefit from Ed’s tale and hopefully find some inspiration for their own lives.