Common Book nabs The Book Thief

First year students won’t need to use a five-finger discount to pick up their copy of The Book Thief, Marcus Zusak’s excellent novel.  The book was recently selected for the Common Book Common Ground Program, meaning students will be receiving a complimentary copy to help them discover common literary ground with their classmates.
The novel, set in Nazi Germany, is narrated by Death who notes that this is a period when he was extremely busy.  The main character, Liesel Meminger, is a nine-year old foster child who steals books because she cannot resist the lure of the words on the pages.  During the course of the war she shares her stolen words with neighbours during bombing raids and with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

Exquisitely crafted, the book has won several awards including the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize for best book and Publishers’ Weekly Best Children’s Book of the Year.

"I suppose it is wonderful that these human Nipissing students will be reading the book and getting to know me, though I have never aspired to the limelight," said Death.  "I quite enjoyed Mr. Zusak's book, though, and cannot complain about my portrayal; who would listen anyway?  There is much in the book for the human students to enjoy, think about and discuss before they eventually make my acquaintance."

This is the fifth year Nipissing has offered the common book program. The project has two main goals: to introduce students in an academic way to literacy and critical thinking, and to provide students with some common intellectual ground to facilitate discussion and friendship.

The book was recently made into a feature film, directed by Brian Percival and starring Geoffrey Rush. Check out the trailer, right here.