The Book Thief

The Book Thief ISBN: 0375842209 ISBN-13: 9780375842207

I was surprised that this is actually considered a YA book. From the length to the subject matter it seemed like it was more.. adult..I think.

The story is a girl who is placed with foster parents in Nazi Germany. At first she did not go to school much so when she was placed she could not really read. As time goes on she gets the power of words and then she starts stealing books. The symbolism being that Hitler waged a war with words so she fights back with her own. She steals a book from a bonfire of un Nazi like books and proceeds to use it to learn to read. Later when she progresses to stealing from the Mayor’s wife, it is not stealing as the woman permits her to take the books but the symbolism is still there.

The story is different from other Nazi era books as it is told in the story of a German girl who is forced to go to Hitler’s Youth meetings and participate in other Nazi like activities. It is good as it gives the reader perspective on what is was like to be a germen youth during that time. From not having enough to eat, to having to conform to a standard set of behaviors we get a glimpse into a world that still remains unthinkable.