THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak
THE BOOK THIEF is one of the best novels that I have read. Author Markus Zusak’s storyline is both sad and wonderful, as it deals with Germany during WWII and the Holocaust. His memorable characters have tremendous depth, and the plot is extremely original. However, what makes this book so extraordinary is the author’s writing, which, at times, is more poetry than prose. I frequently found myself reading passages of the elegantly written narrative aloud.
May 19, 2009
Tags: Death, Knopf, WW2, YA Posted in: Award Winning Author, Book Club Choice, Germany, Holocaust, Top Pick 
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THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS by John Boyne
John Boyne’s novel, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is outstanding. It is beautifully written with a most powerful storyline. Nine year-old Bruno is an innocent, carefree boy growing up in Berlin during WWII. He has three “Best Friends For Life,” and wants to be an explorer when he grows up. Bruno lives in a beautiful mansion, complete with gardens and servants, along with his older sister Gretel, their lovely mother, and their father, a high ranking SS officer. The boy comes home one day after school, in 1943, and finds Maria, the family maid, packing his belongings into wooden crates, including things he had hidden and were “nobody’s business.” He learns that his family is moving away from Berlin and he must go with them, leaving behind his school, best friends and beloved grandparents.
May 19, 2009
Tags: 1940s, allegory, WW2, YA Posted in: Germany, Holocaust, Movie Material No Comments
