The Book Thief Review

I recently reread The Book Thief by Mark Zusak. This book takes place in the small town of Molching, Germany, during World War II, and it follows the story of a young girl named Liesel. After her brother dies tragically, Liesel is sent away to live with an older German couple--the Hubermanns. 

Although this book takes place during the war, the early chapters focus more on Liesel’s personal struggles. I found this to be a very interesting take. World War II was a war that touched all parts of the globe in different ways, so there is no end to the perspectives that can be shared from it. This perspective in particular--that of a young German girl largely unaware of the war going on around her--is one that could easily be overlooked. That being said, Liesel’s story was powerful and moving.

Through this book, I was able to learn more about the people in Germany who were not Nazis but were still affected by Nazi ideals and the consequences of the war. I got a closer look at the propaganda, brutality, and ideas floating around the country. 

The characters in the story felt remarkably real and human. They struggled with morals, grief, and maturity. Reading it felt like a peek into history, and a genuine representation of what it was like to live and process through all of these events.

I’ve always felt that it is important to read books about World War II written from a variety of different perspectives. This book was not only informative but also very well composed. The entire book remains interesting, educational, and poignant. It taught me more about the suffering of the Holocaust and across Germany during the war. This book teaches a lesson that, as time goes on, is necessary to learn again and again so that the tragedy is never forgotten or overlooked.