The Book Thief

I just finished The Book Thief  by Markus Zusak.  Wow.  This is a book that EVERYONE should read.  This is why:

1.  It is about a young girl in Nazi Germany, but she is neither a Nazi nor a Jew.  Her name is Liesel.

2.  Liesel's foster parents are German, but they have no love for the Nazis.

3.  Her foster father has silver eyes, is a house painter and plays the accordion.  He is a really good guy.  It's hard to be a good guy in Nazi Germany.

4.  Her best friend's idol is Jesse Owens, and he covers himself with charcoal dust to prove it.  This is a bad idea.

5.  Her  parents hide a Jewish man in their basement.  This is also a bad idea.

6.  Liesel does steal books.  One of them from a Nazi book burning.  Again, this is a bad idea.

7.  She also steals from the mayor's wife, but this turns out to be a good idea.

6.  The narrator is an unexpected and unwanted guest, but oh so appropriate.

The Book Thief is an amazing accomplishment.  It is funny, heartbreaking and horrifying, but it also shows the human side of a terrible time in history.  Please read it!  A little or a lot, it will change you.
TBC