The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Well here's a book I couldn't put down. This is a story of the Holocaust told from a perspective I hadn't quite considered: Death. I hope that doesn't give too much away. It's an interesting point of view that underscores the way death permeated Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. It was a time of death for lives, of course, but also of livelihoods, literature, friendships, art, freedom, and, for many, hope. This book tells the story of how one young adolescent refused to allow her hope to die during this time through a hard-fought relationship with books. It affirms the power of literature as well as the resilience and persistence of young people in the face of the worst of times.

I appreciated this book on a number of levels. I loved the short chapters, each one a tale in and of itself, that propelled the story forward. I also liked that the book wasn't just driven by plot; it's full of reflection about life, death, and everything that happens in between. It's a heavy topic, to be sure, but definitely worth a read.