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[CCBC-Net] Late comments on The Book Thief and related issues
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From: Nancy Silverrod <nsilverrod>
Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 14:20:32 -0800
So far, having only had the opportunity to get my hands on The Book Thief, (I'm now on a strict budget), I can't comment on the other titles. But I read The Book Thief in an advanced reading format, and have been giving it (and recommending it) to both teens (14 and up) and adults. I think some younger readers can definitely take it in, depending on their experience reading holocaust literature, and their education in the subject.
As I understand it, it was originally published as an adult book in Australia, and the American publisher decided to market it as a YA book.I'm trying to convince our library's monthly book club to select it.
As a Jew, I felt challenged to read a book about the holocaust from an average German family's point of view. Zusak was successful in making me feel sympathetic to Liesel, her foster family, and even some other members of their community.
The other holocaust novel I read this year that I found much more disturbing was Boyle's The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I know this was discussed at some length on the list earlier in the year, but I feel the two books bear some comparison given their two nine-year-old protagonists--one so disturbingly innocent, and the other so world-weary and wise.
I really struggled with Boyle's book. While I feel the book was very powerful, I don't believe any nine-year-old child can remain as ignorant as Boyle has portrayed Bruno--whatever the nightmarish circumstances faced. And the last two paragraphs struck me as incredibly irresponsible:
"And that's the end of the story about Bruno and his family. Of course all this happened a long time ago and nothing like that could ever happen again.
Not in this day and age."
And then to end with an author's note that was addressed to adults, without giving some, even brief, explanation of the holocaust to young readers seemed even worse.
And yet, the book sticks with me....
I don't believe in censoring children's reading, and was glad to have been raised by a mother who allowed me to explore whatever part of the library I chose. The uproar over Lucky has appalled me, and yet, there is something in me that wants to put a note in Boyle's book saying "read this with a grownup you trust." I guess I feel Boyle's ending makes him seem untrustworthy to me.
Nancy Silverrod, Librarian San Francisco Public Library 100 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA 94102 415-557-4417 nsilverrod at sfpl.org
Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind. -James Russell Lowell, poet, editor, and diplomat (1819-1891)
Received on Wed 07 Mar 2007 04:20:32 PM CST
Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 14:20:32 -0800
So far, having only had the opportunity to get my hands on The Book Thief, (I'm now on a strict budget), I can't comment on the other titles. But I read The Book Thief in an advanced reading format, and have been giving it (and recommending it) to both teens (14 and up) and adults. I think some younger readers can definitely take it in, depending on their experience reading holocaust literature, and their education in the subject.
As I understand it, it was originally published as an adult book in Australia, and the American publisher decided to market it as a YA book.I'm trying to convince our library's monthly book club to select it.
As a Jew, I felt challenged to read a book about the holocaust from an average German family's point of view. Zusak was successful in making me feel sympathetic to Liesel, her foster family, and even some other members of their community.
The other holocaust novel I read this year that I found much more disturbing was Boyle's The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I know this was discussed at some length on the list earlier in the year, but I feel the two books bear some comparison given their two nine-year-old protagonists--one so disturbingly innocent, and the other so world-weary and wise.
I really struggled with Boyle's book. While I feel the book was very powerful, I don't believe any nine-year-old child can remain as ignorant as Boyle has portrayed Bruno--whatever the nightmarish circumstances faced. And the last two paragraphs struck me as incredibly irresponsible:
"And that's the end of the story about Bruno and his family. Of course all this happened a long time ago and nothing like that could ever happen again.
Not in this day and age."
And then to end with an author's note that was addressed to adults, without giving some, even brief, explanation of the holocaust to young readers seemed even worse.
And yet, the book sticks with me....
I don't believe in censoring children's reading, and was glad to have been raised by a mother who allowed me to explore whatever part of the library I chose. The uproar over Lucky has appalled me, and yet, there is something in me that wants to put a note in Boyle's book saying "read this with a grownup you trust." I guess I feel Boyle's ending makes him seem untrustworthy to me.
Nancy Silverrod, Librarian San Francisco Public Library 100 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA 94102 415-557-4417 nsilverrod at sfpl.org
Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind. -James Russell Lowell, poet, editor, and diplomat (1819-1891)
Received on Wed 07 Mar 2007 04:20:32 PM CST
