Mr. Armstrong recommends The Book Thief

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, is an amazing journey of survival and courage. A work of historical fiction uniquely told through the eyes of Death, it’s the story of a young German girl named Liesel Meminger who discovers the power of words by stealing books. Set in Nazi Germany during World War II, The Book Thief is filled with stories about goodness, friendship, destruction, and compassion. You won’t be able to put it down! Recommended for seventh graders and older.

The best word shakers were the ones who understood the true power of words. They were the ones who could climb the highest. One such word shaker was a small, skinny girl. She was renowned as the best word shaker of her region because she knew how powerless a person could be without words (Zusak, 446).

I am the Messenger

I recently read I Am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak. It is a story about a young man named Ed Kennedy who is drifting through life without much direction, outside of driving his taxi and playing cards and drinking with his friends. Ed's life is changed dramatically when he stops a bank robbery and starts receiving mystery missions that are delivered on playing cards. The missions are vague, but direct him to help random strangers. Though he has no idea who is sending him the cards, Ed completes each mission and through his work, he finds that his life is being changed as well. This story highlights how our lives are all interconnected and that we can really make a difference with small gestures.