The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

       Metaphors ... personification...... figurative language, Markus Zusak makes art out of words and he uses his style to give a bittersweet and unusual twist to the telling of The Book Thief.
       The narrator's voice will surprise and intrigue; it will strike fear in the heart, but as the reader accepts the voice it will slowly seduce and intoxicate as it pours into the mind.
       Set in Germany in the midst of human betrayal, the most unusual friendships are born.  Bonds of love solidify relationships woven between the most unlikely of subjects.  And, friendship gives birth to hope; and hope gives birth to bravery; and bravery saves lives.
       Zusak pulls the reader into a puzzle made of pieces of rythmic poetry and colorful events.  He uses the most unlikely narrator to capture the reader's sense of mystery and horror.  Yet, when the horror dissipates the reader is clearly aware of the absolute logic in the argument at the end of this tale; the reader accepts the entire cycle of life and moves on.

Thank you to my English 103 student, Berkley, who suggested this book.