The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I'm usually not a huge fan of Holocaust-related literature, but The Book Thief is a great story. Zusak chronicles the life of a young girl named Liesel that is separated from her brother and her mother in Nazi Germany. The girl, after being orphaned, is taken in by a family that lives in Munich, Germany, which had tons of Nazi supporters and Hitler-worshipers. Throughout the book, Liesel learns how to keep a secret and develops relationships with people that would have been less-than-desirable in her time. She learns to read and write from her "Papa", and she opens the door to a whole other world through books and reading.

Here's the Big Five:

1. Zusak recreates a world that not a lot of people are around to recount. He describes the Nazi reign in Germany vividly and, after doing some research myself, accurately. He inserts German vernacular (but he clearly defines every word he uses) and describes the lay of the land and the people there perfectly.
2. The Book Thief tells a historical account without having that boring history feel. You learn a lot about the culture in Germany at the time while feeling like you're simply reading a creative fiction story.
3. Zusak takes a very original approach to the story. There are lots of pieces of literature about the Holocaust and events that took place during, but Zusak constructs an interesting, never-before-heard-of story that will keep you wanting to read more.
4. The Book Thief leaves you room to form your own opinions. Zusak doesn't push a biased opinion down your throat. If you're a decent human being, then yeah, you're going to be disgusted by the Holocaust and the crimes committed during, but when I say you can form your own opinions, I mean about the characters in the book.
5. I'm an avid supporter of education, so the fact that Zusak allows his main character's eyes to be opened through reading and learning to write really makes my heart smile. A theme that was clearly developed throughout the novel was that knowledge means power.

So, if you're looking for a great read that will be sure to reach deep down into your soul and touch your heart, then you'll love The Book Thief. History nuts will also find the book interesting and accurate; or, if you're just interested in learning about the Holocaust but don't want to read a history textbook to learn, then this book is a great start.

I recommend 8/10.