The Book Thief

I had purchased The Book Thief two summers ago and started reading it in the car while waiting for my girls to get done with cross country practice.  Then school happened.  Reading too sporatic and disjointed.  So I picked the book up again--but I had to reread the first 150 pages.

Wow!  Why did I ever stop reading this book?!?!?  It is such an awesome story, but the way it is told lifts it to another level.  The narrator, Death, tells the story of a young German girl during WWII.  Given the timeframe of the setting, the narrator Death, and the sheer length--this novel will not be that uplifting, mindless read I sometimes crave.   Students have a renewed interest in the novel since the movie just came out.  I am hesitant to recommend this book to my students because I think most will get frustrated.  A few of my higher-level, avid readers completed it and loved it.

I am reading another Markus Zusak (brief author info) novel--The Messenger--that absolutely would not be appropriate for junior high students (sexual content and foul language).  If I have a student that wants to read this novel, I secure their parents' permission because of the language used (though most of the swearing is uttered in German).

The Boy on the Wooden Box

We are completing our "Holocaust" reads with both the seventh and eighth grade students.  I just finished The Book Thief.  So I picked up another book--Leon Leyson's The Boy on the Wooden Box.  I think I've had my fill for a while.

I actually listened to this book on audio (which won an award) during my short commute to and from school.  Though I am a visual learner, this audio held my focus.  I would recommend this book to some of my more mature students who are interested in the Holocaust.  I would preface their read by reminding them that Leyson's story is an example of how God works in the most mysterious way.  I lost count how many times he was within death's grip and survived because of split-second decisions.

Leyson died one year ago (January 2013).  I want to peruse this site (Little Leyson), but I think I will do this when I am certain no one will interrupt me.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Wow!  This was a tremendous novel--almost painful to watch it unfold, but you have to keep reading.  The story begins with a young boy (I believe around 10ish) telling how angry he was to have to move because of his father's new position.  Throughout the novel, his naive idea about where he was living was slowly peeling away.  Outstanding novel.  Appropriate Holocaust novel for middle school readers, but not so young that even adults wouldn't find this novel an amazing read.  I've seen where the reading level is around 8.3 (lexile 1080), but I feel this is a little high.  I will definately recommend this book to my junior high students.

My daughters have told me (and I discovered this to be true after reading the book) that this book has been made into a movie.  I'm not big into movies, so I probably won't pick it up.  Nonetheless, it is out there.

John Boyne has written numerous other novels for both adults and adolescents.  In fact, I've added one of his more adult novels to my endless "To Read" list.  See his website by clicking HERE.