Though there are many novels about World War II from the Jewish perspective, few are written from the perspective of German citizens. Zusak has written a novel that tells the story of a German foster child, Liesel Meminger. She is the book thief of the title, and she discovers the power of words at roughly the same time as Hitler does. Set during World War II, the narrator Death tells a story about the power of words to heal and help in a world constantly marred by war, death, and the Nazi's rise to power.
Key Aspects of The Book Thief
Tone
The tone of the novel varies throughout. It is often contemplative and poetical, and there are passages, such as when Death is scooping up the soul...
