Award for Markus Zusak (another one…)

markus-book-theifThe creative genius of Markus Zusak has again received acclaim for ‘the Book Thief’  – this time in his mother’s homeland, Germany. Alongside another Aussie, Shaun Tan, Markus was awarded a prize by winning in a major category at the Deutsche Jugendliteraturpreis, Germany’s most prestigious awards for children’s and YA books.

That he should receive such acclaim for a book written about the (fictional) experience of Liesel Meminger, a child in Nazi Germany, is quite a triumph. But not one we are surprised by however, given the extraordinary tale Markus has woven; one recognised by many awards since its publication in 2005.

According to Markus, The Book Thief is a small story. (With 584 pages, I wonder how he might tell a large story?) Though it covers many pages, it is masterful and intriguing to read – so you regret when it finishes. It is an emotional ride, as Liesel navigates childhood years amid the experience of WWII, which makes the adult world even more mystifying than usual.

What she has to do to find enough to eat, to make sense of the treatment of Jews and to remain human in the frenetic world of bombing raids and persecution describe the tale. Unique friendships and creative ways to survive, bring connections through the book, as Liesel brings people together using books; stolen and shared as they huddle from the outside world in the safety of a basement.

While often referred to as Zusak’s first adult book, ‘the Book Thief’ also has great appeal for the mature young adult reader – especially those with an  interest in WWII perspectives from a child’s point of view. That the tale is narrated by Death may be offputting to some, but it enables an interesting and unique way of judging mankind.

In the opinion of German judges in the abovementioned awards:

‘many individual stories of the experience of youth in the Second World War have been written, but none match up to the narrative of this book.’

Many older reviews are available online, which recommend that both adults and young adults read ‘the Book Thief’, so can you argue with that? Have you read ‘the Book Thief’? What did think of it?

Reviews:

Ardagh, Philip. January 6, 2007.  It’s a Steal, the Guardian. ‘Unsettling, thought-provoking, life-affirming, triumphant and tragic, this is a novel of breathtaking scope, masterfully told. It is an important piece of work, but also a wonderful page-turner. I cannot recommend it highly enough.’

Green, John. May 14, 2005. Fighting for their Lives. New York Times. ‘Many teenagers will find the story too slow to get going… But it’s the kind of book that can be life-changing, because without ever denying the essential amorality and randomness of the natural order, “The Book Thief” offers us a believable, hard-won hope.’

Pierce, Peter. September 10, 2005. The Book Thief. The Age. ‘A prize-winning children’s author, Zusak has made a daring debut as an author of adult fiction.’

N.B. We are eagerly await Markus’ next book, ‘Bridge of Clay’ (due for release in November 2009)… We’ll keep you posted.

Alek by Alek Wek

Alek_25Sudanese. Poor. Dinka girl in a hostile homeland. Awkward and suffering. This was Alek.

Her tale is written here in ‘Alek, the Extraordinary Life of a Sudanese Refugee’, and reveals what a journey she has had to her current world, now as a  supermodel. She was not discovered in the bushlands of Sudan, as is often suggested in the media, but struggled to adapt to a new world in London as a refugee.

There is much to be learnt from Alek’s story. It is a powerful insight to the strife and troubles faced in Sudan, due to civil war which killed nearly 2 million people, and unrest and power plays which continue today. Her family were poor survivors, headed by parents who were accustomed to life on the run.

At the age of six, Alek and her family fled their home village, Wau, in fear of the rising incidents of fighting and the accusations that the Dinka people were to blame for the conflict. With their sparse possessions, they left on foot to traverse the countryside to the shabby home village of relatives, who were even worse off than the Wek family. Interesting aspects of kinship and support are woven through the story, and the fragile status of refugees is also clearly reflected.

Another element which pervades Alek’s tale is the strength of her parents as they try to to their best for nine children, in a war torn country empty of hope. Escape becomes essential for survival, and it is only through familial links in Khartoum and finally London, that Alek gets her chance. For her father, suffering bad healing of a broken hip and consequent infection, escape to Khartoum, though achieved, came too late.

Life in London is by no means ideal for Alek, but with the absence of civil war, she works hard to support herself at her sister’s home, and to bring the rest of her family there. Conditions are far better for her health here, and her strong will and work ethic steel her against the racism she experiences, and her ‘exotic’  beauty is uncovered.

Alek’s tale is not an easy one. It reflects many cultural issues; the need for family, the strength of family values, the ties to a homeland, the struggle to survive,  and the blind acceptance of stereotypes. It also brings hope – for those who remain behind, as Alek has been able to bring attention to the plight of those left behind in her homeland, Sudan.

There are many thought provoking ideas in this book, and many challenges to the affluent westerner. Read it, and see what you think.

Hating Alison Ashley (review by Sarah N.)

haa‘Hating Alison Ashley’ is a novel written by Robin Klein. Robin Klein was born in Kempsey, NSW and is now a full-time writer. Many of her books have been short listed for the Australian Children’s Book of the Year award, one being ‘Hating Alison Ashley’ which has also been turned into a movie.

‘Hating Alison Ashley’ is set at Barringa East Primary School. Erica Yurken is the main character and always thought that she belonged as an actress, but when Alison Ashley unexpectedly turned up and her class went on their annual camp everything changes for Ericia Yurken. She becomes nervous and dreads the night of presentation, where the class shows off what they did whilst at camp.

I would recommend this book for children from the age eleven to sixteen.

Hostage, Karen Tayleur

hostageIt’s Christmas time and Tully has just finished school. As an average teenager, you would think things should be good for her. Unfortunately, on Christmas Eve, she gets caught up in a hostage situation at her local chemist, and we learn a lot more about her as a result:

“I remember something cold on my neck, which could have been a knife, or it could have just been his cold long fingers pressing in to me…”

And so the tale begins, as Karen Tayleur crafts a story which gives us glimpses of Tully’s childhood past, and then intertwines this with clues of how Tully came to be in the hostage situation that Christmas Eve. Tully revisits the relationships she has had with various friends and family members, as the police ‘interview’ her back at the police station, though it more her telling her own life story as the book unfolds.

In an interesting technique,  the story moves through phases  of Tully telling her version of the events to the police, glimpses of her treasure box, and narrated versions of what really happened. It works well, as it has the reader pondering what really happened, and which version of the events the police will ultimately believe. 

‘Hostage’ was launched at the ASLA Biennial Conference on September 30, and it was great to meet with the author, Karen Tayleur. She has created real characters, in everyday situations, some living a not-so-perfect life, well-woven together in a book of puzzles for the reader to jigsaw together.

Another interesting point is the mention of characters from her previous book, ‘Chasing Boys’. Was is just that she liked their names and characters, or do authors become attached to them, like real people? Perhaps if you read both books you could comment on this crossover, and suggest whether Karen has another book in mind? Perhaps you have suggestions for her?

Vist her website for details about her other books and an insight into the author herself. You can also read an interview with Karen at:

http://heyteenager.blogspot.com/2009/10/interview-with-karen-tayleur.html