Bloggers' Favorite Picks

The Book Thief

Markus Zusak (See interview clip at your left) is a rising star in the world of young novelists.  According to his website, he has written four novels before The Book Thief, the book I'm currently reading. His other books are  The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, Getting the Girl, and I Am the Messenger.  Zusak is the recipient of a 2006 Printz Honor for excellence in young adult literature. He lives in Sydney.

I recently began reading The Book Thief because several of my students told me it is one of their favorite books ever.  It's about girl who lives in Nazi Germany during Hitler's rise to power.  There are apparently secrets about her family that the author has yet to reveal, but he has introduced a Jewish character who is in hiding and I suspect his path will soon cross Liesel, the 10-year-old main character.

 Zusak writes from the point of view of Death, who narrates the story throughout.  Death's perspective on humanity is sometimes surprising, and he turns out to be a somewhat likable character.  He becomes fascinated Liesel when he comes to take the soul of her brother and begins to follow her life.  He wants to tell us her story.   As you can imagine, the story is full of both personal and political intrigue.  Zusak's writing style is innovative and poetic .  So far, I'm enjoying the book very much.

Silver Sparrow By Tayari Jones

Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones is set in Southwest Atlanta in the 1980s.  Jones grew up in Atlanta and this is her third novel set in the the city. The story in Silver Sparrow is told from the point of view of two different teenage girls. Jones chronicles the life of two half-sisters who grow up only a few miles apart but didn't know each other.  They have different mothers, yet shared the same father.  James Witherspoon married Laverne (Chaurisse's mother) when she was 14 years old and pregnant.  While he was married to Laverne, James became involved with Gwen (Dana's mother) and fathered Dana.  He lives with Laverne and Chaurisse, but visits Gwen and Dana on Wednesday nights.  Dana feels second best to Chaurisse because Chaurrise is his daughter in "public," while James keeps Dana hidden, afraid that his wife and other daughter will discover her existence.  In some ways Dana feels fortunate because she knows about Chaurisse while Chaurisse knows nothing about Dana.  When the two girls inevitably meet, Chaurisse is fascinated with Dana because she has long, thick hair and Chaurisse considers her to be beautiful, a "silver girl."  Chaurisse believes she is chubby and unattractive and feels inferior to Dana.  Dana, of course, cannot tell Chaurisse the truth, and this sets the stage for complications in their relationship.  Through this story, Jones explores the damage lies and secrets do to relationships of all kinds.  Ultimately James is found out, and though there is intense competition for his love and attention, nobody wins in this sad story.

Tayari Jones also wrote Leaving Atlanta, which won a number of awards.  The backdrop for the story is the Atlanta child murders from 1979-81.  Jones was a child living in Southwest Atlanta during the time when thirty African American children in nearby neighborhoods were murdered.  For more information about Tayari Jones and her books, click here.  To find out what she is reading, visit here blog.  Jones will be in Decatur on Thursday, July 28, at Eagle Eye Bookshop.