When you hear the titles Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Of Mice and Men, what do you think of? Most people are probably thinking the same thing: these are books I am reading/have read during high school!
What about The Book Thief? Should it be taught in schools?
Has The Book Thief been banned?
The Book Thief has never been banned. However, it has been challenged several times because it contains sensitive content related to death, war, and violence.
For more information on why this book was challenged visit: Was The Book Thief Banned?
Should it be taught in schools?
Even though it has been challenged, I think that The Book Thief is a very valuable book to be taught in schools. The writing is amazing, and it contains so many literary devices and techniques, such as the use of foreshadowing, symbolism and personification.
The book deals with the Second World War and the Holocaust, and it does so in a different way than any other Holocaust-related text. This is because it is narrated by Death, which makes it a very interesting perspective, as it grabs students' attentions and keeps them engaged.
The Book Thief provides lots of information on the Second World War, and its effects on a normal German family.
Although students may be intimidated by the length of this novel, this book is a very easy read, and Liesel's character is an easy one to love. Her character development and coming of age is also an important part of this novel, and one that students may relate to or find interesting to study.
Overall, The Book Thief not only provides readers with knowledge about history, but also about powerful themes and impactful characters that you will be sure to remember.
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