The book, “The Book Thief” by Marcus Zakus pays much attention to the history of events in Germany during the World War II. To be more specific, the setting of the story, which is the fictional town, is the Hubermann household. It is because Liesel’s home was based in this household where Hans and Rosa became her foster parents. The war plays a significant role in this novel since it portrays the World War II through death and sorrow seen in the eyes of children. Generally, the setting of the story is sad. Moreover, the story begins in 1939 at the beginning of World War II and it continues into the years of World War II.
The main character of the novel is Liesel Meminger. She is the brave book thief. Liesel is a young brave who changes her character from being hungry and distinguishing to someone who loves her friends and family. At the end of the story, she has developed strong personal moral code and is no longer afraid to endanger herself. The other characters in the story are Hans Hubermann and Rosa Hubermann who were Liesel’s foster parents. Hans is gentle and patient and is the first one to win Liesel’s trust. Contrary, Rosa was at first cold and impatient but later proved to be kind and caring. Also, Max Vandenburg plays an important role in the novel. He is the secrete lodger of Hubermann. Of all the characters, Max understands Liesel’s experience and later the two became soul mates. Liesel best friend in the book is Rudy Steiner. The other characters are, Alex Steiner- Rudy’s father, Ilsa Hermann- mayor’s wife, Frau Holtzapfel- Hubermann’s neighbors, Michael Holtzapfel-Frau’s son, Robart Holtzapfel- Michael’s brother, Frau Diller- candy store’s owner, Hans Hubermann- Hubermann’s sone, Trudy Hubermann- Hubermann’s daughter, Arthur Berg- the first leader of gang group of apple-stealing, Walter Kugler- the person who helped Max to escape, Franz Deutscher- Rudy’s Hitler Youth Group’s leader, Viktor Chemmel- the second leader of the group of gang known as Apple-stealing, and Reinhold Zucker, trade mate of Hans and saves Han’s life. Above all the characters, Death plays an important character. Death is the narrator of the story. At the beginning of the narration, death is sardonic with a darkly wry sense of humor. As the story progresses in the World War II, Death becomes weary and remorseful about snatched many souls.
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The Book Thief narrates the story of a little girl, Liesel Meminger, who is parented by someone else since the parents could not afford taking care of her. The story is being narrated by Death. The novel is set in Nazi, Germany from the beginning of World War II. When Liesel was on the way to her new home, her younger brother died and this is the time Liesel steals her first book, The Gravedigger Handbook. Suddenly, she acquired another parent, Hans Hubermann and Rosa Hubermann, who gave her a new home. At the first time, Liesel does not like the foster parents. After some time the relationship between Hubermann and Liesel started strengthening. In the nights, she was always haunted by her brother’s death. Slowly, Liesel coped up with the new life and the nightmares disappeared. She meets Ruby, her best friend from the neighborhood who constantly asked Liesel to kiss him.
Afterward, Hans discovered that Liesel doesn’t know how to read and began teaching her alphabets and together they went through the book Liesel stole from gravedigger. At the time, the political situation of Germany continued to worsen as war invaded and families experiencing food shortages. Liesel also steals the book-burning from the flames during the celebration of Hitler’s birthday. Meanwhile, Hans hides a Jewish named Max since he served with Max’s father as a German soldier during the World War I. when Max recovered from the ordeal, he became Liesel’s friend and Max writes a book to Liesel on the painted-over pages of MKPF.
With the help of her best friend Ruby, Liesel steals books from Hermann’s’ library. When Max falls sick and gets into a coma, Rasa and Hans are worried about how and where to dispose his soul when he dies. Liesel continues with the trend of stealing books from Hermann’s’ library. Cheekily, Hermann gives Liesel a dictionary with a note inside saying that she knows she has been stealing books from her library. The mayor's wife then gave Liesel a blank notebook to begin writing her own story. After Rudy has won three races at Hitler Youth Carnival, there was bombing near Molching. It forced people on the Liesel’s block to shelter in a neighboring basement as Max stayed alone at Hubermann’s basement.
One night when there was bombing at Hubermann’s neighborhood, Rub, Hans, and Rosa, as well as the other neighbors, are killed. When Liesel met Ruby’s corpse, she kissed him at last which was the thing Ruby has ever yearned for. She then lived her book called, The Book Thief, which was rescued by whoever was watching. Liesel then decides to live with the mayor and his wife. After liberation from of the camps, Max comes back to Molching where he met Liesel once again. They then married and moved to Australia where they spend their lives as a family to their old age. When death finally came to take Liesel, Max showed her the book she had written for several years before.
After reading “The Book Thief”, I realized that this book is an eye-opener. It made me realize that many Germans were victims of world wars. Actually, all of them were not evil as portrayed by many. The story actually brings sorrows one time and makes you happy the next moment. Liesel’s sorrowful times creeps onto me and eventually, I realized that many passed through this and how serious the way was. I could, therefore, recommend anyone above the age of 13 to find this book and read it. It is a serious story and cannot be easily understood by those under this age.
