The Book Thief

The Book Thief

Zusak, Markus. 2007. THE BOOK THIEF. New York, NY: Random House Children’s Books. 9780375842207.

Summary and Analysis:

            Narrated by Death, The Book Thief tells the story of nine-year-old Leisel living in Germany in 1939. Even though she could not read, Leisel begins to steal books and builds up a collection of 14 books. Leisel clings to the books, not for their written content, but for their sentimental value. The first stolen book reminds Leisel of her dead brother and the last time she saw her mother. Eventually, Leisel learns to read and even write her own story. 

            Readers will enjoy Zusak’s detailed writing that instantly paints pictures of Leisel’s hardships. One example is when Death is describing seeing the book thief during a bombing in Germany. “It probably had more to do with the hurled bombs thrown down by humans hiding in the clouds. Yes, the sky was now a devastating, home-cooked red. The small, German town had been flung apart one more time. Snowflakes of ash fell so lovely, you were tempted to stretch out your tongue to catch them, taste them. Only, they would have scorched your lips. They would have cooked your mouth” (Beside the Railway Line, 1:09). Zusak’s writing allows readers to see the situation through Death’s eyes. His words create a vivid, sometimes disturbing, picture in your mind.

            Zusak’s book was written for mature readers, as it tackles tough topics like war, neglect, and death and contains profanity. And while Leisel’s hardships are hard to listen to at times, Zusak’s well written story with the importance of books makes this book a must read (or a must listen to). Allan Corduner’s voice is the perfect accompaniment to Zusak’s book, it epitomizes death and what it’s voice would be like.

Reviews:

The Book Thief will be appreciated for Mr. Zusak's audacity, also on display in his earlier I Am the Messenger. It will be widely read and admired because it tells a story in which books become treasures. And because there's no arguing
with a sentiment like that.
- New York Times

The Book Thief is unsettling and unsentimental, yet ultimately poetic. Its grimness and tragedy run through the reader's mind like a black-and-white movie, bereft of the colors of life. Zusak may not have lived under Nazi domination, but The Book Thief deserves a place on the same shelf with The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank and Elie Wiesel's Night. It seems poised to become a classic." 
- USA Today

"Zusak doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but he makes his ostensibly gloomy subject bearable the same way Kurt Vonnegut did in Slaughterhouse-Five: with grim, darkly consoling humor. 
- Time Magazine

Elegant, philosophical and moving...Beautiful and important. 
- Kirkus Reviews, Starred

This hefty volume is an achievement...a challenging book in both length 
and subject...
- Publisher's Weekly, Starred

One of the most highly anticipated young-adult books in years. - The Wall Street Journal

Exquisitely written and memorably populated, Zusak's poignant tribute to words, survival, and their curiously inevitable entwinement is a tour 
de force to be not just read but inhabited.
- The Horn Book Magazine, Starred

An extraordinary narrative.- School Library Journal, Starred

Publishers Weekly

Corduner uses considerable zeal and a talent for accents to navigate Zusak's compelling, challenging novel set in Nazi Germany. Death serves as knowing narrator for the tale, which is framed much like a lengthy flashback. The storytelling aspects of this structure include asides to the listener, and lots of foreshadowing about what eventually happens to the various lead characters-appealing features for listeners. But Corduner seems to most enjoy embracing the heart of things here-the rather small and ordinary saga of 10-year-old Liesel Meminger, who has been given over to a foster family following her mother's branding as a "Kommunist" and the death of her younger brother. Under her foster parents' care, she learns how to read, how to keep terrifying secrets and how to hone her skills as a book thief, a practice that keeps her sane and feeds her newfound love of words. With quick vocal strokes, Corduner paints vivid, provocative portraits of Germans and Jews under unfathomable duress and the ripple effect such circumstances have on their lives. Ages 12-up. (Oct.)

From The Critics

Gr 9 Up
With Death as narrator, Markus Zusak's haunting novel (Knopf, 2003) follows Liesel Meminger, The Book Thief, through the fear-filled years of Nazi Germany. The story opens as the ten-year-old girl takes her first book shortly after her younger brother's death. Both children were en route to the foster home of Hans and Rosa Hubermann in a Munich suburb. Despite Rosa's sharp tongue and Hans's lack of work, their home is a loving refuge for the nightmare-ridden girl. It also becomes a hideout for Max, a young Jewish man whose father saved Hans's life. Liesel finds solace with her neighbor Rudy and her creative partnership with Max. Accompanied by Rudy, the girl copes by stealing food from farmers and books from the mayor's wife. There are also good moments as she learns to read and plays soccer, but Hans's ill-advised act of kindness to a Jewish prisoner forces Max to leave their safe house. The failing war effort and bombing by the Allies lead to more sacrifices, a local suicide and, eventually, to great losses. Reading books and writing down her experiences save Liesel, but this novel clearly depicts the devastating effects of war. Narrator Allan Corduner defines each character with perfect timing. He's deliberate as the voice of Death, softly strong as Liesel, and impatient, but not unkind, as Rosa. With richly evocative imagery and compelling characters, Zusak explores behind-the-lines life in World War II Germany, showing the day-to-day heroism of ordinary people. Relevant for class discussions on wars both past and present.
—Barbara Wysocki

Connections:

Research World War II and talk about the events.

Write about something that is important to you.

Author’s Website:

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/markuszusak/author.html

American Born Chinese

American Born Chinese

Yang, Gene Luen. 2008. AMERICAN BORN CHINESE. New York, NY: Square Fish. 9780312384487.

Summary and Analysis:

American Born Chinese is a graphic novel that follows the adventures of Monkey King and Jin Wang. Readers meet Jin Wang as he moves from San Francisco and starts third grade at Mayflower Elementary School.  We follow along as he grows older, tries to fit in, and starts to date. The Monkey King is the ruler of the fictitious world of Flower-Fruit Mountain. At the end, the two worlds collide as Danny (formally known as Jin) finds out that his cousin Chin-Kee is really Monkey King in disguise. Jin’s typical childhood problems, like making new friends and dating are relatable for all readers.

Readers will enjoy Yang’s subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) humor, like when Jin gets a “jolt of confidence” from his new hairdo (p. 105) to talk to his crush, Amelia. Lark Pien’s color and illustrations are a perfect accompaniment to Yang’s writing like when the science class takes care of the animals from the Babelene Cosmetics, Inc. and the animals are wearing a full face of makeup.

The detailed writing and pictures will have readers feeling Jin’s emotions, like when Jin finds Amelia and Wei-Chen in the biology closet (p. 105). The blurred edges make Jin’s hazy state feel real. Yang’s words “…that kept me warm for the rest of the night” (p.106) along with the way Jin is blanketed with the word ‘yes,’ will have readers feeling warm and tingly for Jin as well.

Yang’s character Chin-Kee confronts many Chinese stereotypes and misconceptions. From the way he speaks, to the way he looks, Yang’s over-the-top portrayal of Chin-Kee will make readers realize that stereotypes are silly. Chin-Kee’s character perfectly adds to the theme of acceptance by showing Jin how to forgive himself.

The graphic novel format is a perfect way to illustrate this book. The dialogue helps to tell the storyline while the background commentary tells the thoughts and feelings of the characters. The plot seems to move quickly as readers follow Jin and Monkey King’s adventures. Readers will be kept guessing in how these two stories are in the same book until the end when Yang reveals how the two lives intertwine.

Teenage readers will enjoy the comical writing and bright, vivid pictures. All readers, even adults, will relate to Yang’s theme of finding one’s true self. Readers will feel Monkey King’s and Jin’s struggles and hardships they go through trying to find themselves.

Awards:

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, Top Ten List

Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year

School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Booklist Editor’s Choice Book

2007 Michael L. Printz Award Winner

2007 Eisner Award Winner

Best Graphic Album

2006 National Book Award Nominee

Reviews:

Publishers Weekly

As alienated kids go, Jin Wang is fairly run-of-the-mill: he eats lunch by himself in a corner of the schoolyard, gets picked on by bullies and jocks and develops a sweat-inducing crush on a pretty classmate. And, oh, yes, his parents are from Taiwan. This much-anticipated, affecting story about growing up different is more than just the story of a Chinese-American childhood; it's a fable for every kid born into a body and a life they wished they could escape. The fable is filtered through some very specific cultural icons: the much-beloved Monkey King, a figure familiar to Chinese kids the world over, and a buck-toothed amalgamation of racist stereotypes named Chin-Kee. Jin's hopes and humiliations might be mirrored in Chin-Kee's destructive glee or the Monkey King's struggle to come to terms with himself, but each character's expressions and actions are always perfectly familiar. True to its origin as a Web comic, this story's clear, concise lines and expert coloring are deceptively simple yet expressive. Even when Yang slips in an occasional Chinese ideogram or myth, the sentiments he's depicting need no translation. Yang accomplishes the remarkable feat of practicing what he preaches with this book: accept who you are and you'll already have reached out to others. (Sept.)

From The Critics

American Born Chinese is a graphic novel that tells the story of two protagonists. The Monkey King is a figure from Chinese folklore. Angry at not being admitted to a Heavenly Dinner Party because he isn't wearing shoes, the Monkey King masters the twelve disciplines of Kung Fu and sets about proving that he is a god to his fellow deities. He does this by beating up anyone who calls him a monkey. Danny, an Asian boy drawn with white features, wants to be like the rest of the kids in his high school. Unfortunately, the arrival of his cousin from China, Chin-Kee, dashes his hopes. Chin-Kee is every cliche about Chinese people (pronounce his name phonetically) rolled into one fun-filled package. Chin-Kee is so full of fun that a laugh track follows him around, but Danny, who has transferred out of two high schools already because of Chin-Kee's past antics, isn't laughing. There is also a third storyline featuring Jin Wang (Danny in junior high) and his best friend, Wei-Chen Sun. This is one of the best graphic novels I've read this year. It reminds me of Derek Kirk Kim's excellent Same Difference & Other Stories, which is also worth purchasing. The three storylines are interrelated, and all have the same theme: accept who you are. Be warned that the character of Chin-Kee will arouse strong feelings: some may find him offensive while others may think he's funny. American Born Chinese contains racial stereotypes, comic book violence, and one urinating monkey (from the back). It is highly recommended for all graphic novel collections.

Connections:

Write about some struggles you (or a fictitious character) have had with fitting in.

Draw and illustrate a comic strip telling your life story.

About the Author:

Gene Luen Yang began drawing comic books in the fifth grade. In 1997, he received the Xeric Grant, a prestigious comics industry grant, for Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks, his first comics work. He has since written and drawn a number of titles, including Duncan’s Kingdom (with art by Derek Kirk Kim), The Rosary Comic Book, Prime Baby and Animal Crackers. American Born Chinese, his first graphic novel from First Second, was a National Book Award finalist, as well as the winner of the Printz Award and an Eisner Award. He also won an Eisner for The Eternal Smile, a collaboration with Derek Kirk Kim. Yang lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he teaches high school. (Found at Barnesandnoble.com)

Author’s Website:

http://geneyang.com/american-born-chinese

The Underneath

The Underneath

Appelt, Kathi. 2008. THE UNDERNEATH. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 1-4169-5058-5.

Summary and Analysis:

            The Underneath tells the story of the unlikely friendship between Ranger, the hound, and a calico cat living in the forest in East Texas. The story starts with an abandoned, pregnant calico cat who meets Ranger, a lonely hound, chained to a house. The two seem to instantly understand each other. “Here was someone who walked right up to him and rubbed against his sturdy front legs, stood on her hind legs and licked his silky ears, who touched his brown nose with her small pink one. At long last, after so many years of being tied up in this corner, chained to a post, here was someone who understood his song” (p. 16).  The pair connected right away.

            Appelt’s detailed writing brings the story to life for readers, like when she describes her character Gar Face. “This boy stood in the shabby house where he grew up, took one look around, and glowered. Hatred, like sweat, coated his skin. Blood oozed from the corner of his mouth” (p.13). Appelt makes readers understand the level of Gar Face’s evilness and we learn his story and how he got this way.

Amongst the evilness of Gar Face, Appelt’s descriptions of Ranger and the cat’s connections will warm reader’s hearts. When the cat had her kittens, Puck and Sabine, the four became a family. “Ranger watched over his cat family like the pharaohs watched over the Nile, like stars watched over the sleeping Earth, like the beach watched over the sea” (p. 32). Although this book tackles many tough topics, like abandonment and abuse, the tale of the unlikely friendship will hook readers and bring them into every page.

Appelt’s in depth descriptions of the swamp lands will have readers imagining the Texas setting and her short, easy-to-read chapters will have them turning the pages to find out what happens to the family of four.

Awards:

Borders "Original New Voices"

Book Sense "Pick of the Week"

Top Ten Bestsellers, Indie Bound

Finalist, The National Book Awards

John Newbery Honor Book, ALA

Finalist, Heart of Hawick Children's Book Award

PEN Center USA Award Children's Literature

Winner, Writer's League of TX Award for Children's Literature

New York Times Bestseller

Reviews:

Publishers Weekly

On the page, Appelt's first novel, about abused animals and set in a Deep South swamp, reads like it might be spoken with a pronounced twang. Zackman's interpretation, however, is so mellifluous that it sounds like a lullaby. That smooth delivery strikes a discordant note with the material, a story that braids three dark narrative strands: the vodka-swilling Gar Face's battle with the 100-foot-long Alligator King; Gar Face's abused, chained hound dog's ill-fated shepherding of a mother cat and her kittens; and the thousand-year imprisonment of Grandmother Moccasin, a serpent so selfish she resents her daughter falling in love. The even-keel delivery also makes it hard to keep track as the story shifts among the myriad points of view, which include those of the villain, a family of shape-shifters, various animals and sentient trees. Appelt's stylistic choice to use repetition as a construct-"This cat, this feline, this creature he is supposed to hate..."-makes for a monotonous audio experience, and her use of words such as "goldy" (to describe sunshine) makes this disquieting book sound precious. Ages 9-12. Simultaneous release with the S&S/Atheneum hardcover. (May)

From The Critics

AGERANGE: Ages 8 to 12.

An abandoned calico cat finds unlikely shelter under a porch with Ranger, an old hound. Once the calico gives birth to twin kittens, the foursome bond tightly as a family. However, Ranger's owner, Gar Face, is an abusive alcoholic. Both Ranger and the calico warn kittens Puck and Sabine never to wander from the safety of the place they call "The Underneath." The adults tell the kittens about the dangers of getting caught in front of Gar Face's gun, as the human is a cold-hearted trapper who skins the animals he kills and then trades their pelts for alcohol. One morning, Puck follows his playful young instincts and plays with the sun's rays. This leads to the capture and attempted drowning of both Puck and his mother by Gar Face. The hunter's obsession with capturing the Alligator King, an ancient resident of the bayous near his home eventually places Sabine in danger when the human decides to use the tiny kitten as bait. The Alligator King has a long history, one that is connected to the shape-shifting Grandmother Moccasin, her daughter Night Song, and other lives from a thousand years ago, including the Caddo people, Night Song's husband Hawk Man, and their unnamed daughter. Although this long circular narrative's complex, sometimes-overlapping character histories could prove to be difficult for younger readers and the events are sometimes quite ugly, the prose is breathtakingly beautiful. Many characters make seemingly wrong choices, but all are presented with chances to redeem themselves--and make amends for their past choices to follow paths of hate--by choosing to trust in and/or act through love. Possible themes for discussion include parental abuse,animal abuse, conservation, history, mythology, alternative families, and bullying. Reviewer: Jennifer Wood

Connections:

Discussion Topics

Author’s Website:

http://www.kathiappelt.com/