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milly_7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Religious bigotry, War, Racism, Torture, and Slavery
Minor: Cursing
marissasa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Cursing, Child death, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Violence, and War
madammejay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
the last 50 pages or so had me tearing up and even sobbing, the characters are extremely lovable and yet it‘s also informative. i recommend this to anyone who‘s ready to cry.
Moderate: Cursing, Antisemitism, Child death, and Death
kyarabereading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I love the attention to detail Zusak clearly put into this book. This is a book that seems like it took a lot of Zusak's time and research - and all that hard work truly paid off. Everything is so, so real. The characters, the location, the historical events - they all create a story that is so incredibly real. So, so honest. It makes you fall in love with the characters. It makes you feel their pain. It makes it hurt that much more when they're hurt, especially when you realize this story was a reality for many people in 1940s Germany. This book does not sugarcoat the effects of the Holocaust or everyone's participation in it - everyone from the Hitler fanatic to the complaisant supporter. It does not sugarcoat how WWII hurt so many people. It's tragic to see how all this built up, to see what people did because of fear and hatred. What they did for survival.
I also love the creative choices Zusak makes in this book. For one, having Death as a narrator was a choice that really strengthened the book as a whole. Death as a narrator along with Zusak's way with words (along with his writing style and structure and loveable characters and etc., etc., etc.) is a combination that formed some of the most beautiful writing I have seen. Zusak also showed us how all the stories, all the moments in this book are intertwined with each other. I like how some stories remind us of things we have already seen or provide us with foreshadowing for what is coming up. It makes this book entertaining to read every single time.
I think what I love the most about this book is what it teaches us. It is a study of humanity and human nature from a distant point of view. Death is amazed by, terrified by, interested in humans. To quote the book directly, Death is "haunted" by us. It makes me think about my own humanity and that of the people around me. But it does not just make me think about the bad side of humanity, it makes me think about all the good too. The book reminds me of all the beautiful parts of other human beings - people's selflessness, kindness, trust, love, etc., etc., etc. The book also teaches the importance of words. They can be influential. They can be harmful. They can be helpful. They can be life-changing. They can be used as a weapon, but they can also be used for good.
Markus Zusak wrote a book that is so beautifully written and impactful. May I never forget how it made me feel. May I never forget his words.
Graphic: Hate crime, Violence, War, Antisemitism, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Torture
Minor: Excrement and Alcohol
kaitlynnnng's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I smiled, I thought, and I cried…a lot.
I really enjoyed many things about this book, but especially Liesel’s healthy relationships, especially with Hans and Max.
Graphic: Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and War
Moderate: Hate crime, Death of parent, Genocide, Child death, and Death
Minor: Abandonment, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide
brownieboo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Antisemitism, Child death, Confinement, Genocide, Religious bigotry, Death, Death of parent, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Police brutality, Suicide, Bullying, Colonisation, Slavery, Violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Cursing, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Physical abuse
aisling872's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Antisemitism and Genocide
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Child death, Racial slurs, Child abuse, War, Suicide, and Racism
Minor: Cursing
bonepennies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Death and Cursing
The holocaust and discussions of the bombings of cities is a very present topicali_k0's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Genocide, Child death, Violence, Hate crime, Grief, Cursing, Antisemitism, Death, War, and Abandonment
hazydazywaffles's review against another edition
Moderate: Cursing