Montana 1948

Larry Watson's Montana 1948 is a truly spectacular novel. Do you want to know how I know that? Years ago, we were assigned to read it in 11th grade English and it was the only book the entire class read. No one skipped over it, and decided to take the inevitable "F" that was waiting for them on the pop quiz. It was just such an enthralling book, and no one could put it down.

David Hayden is our narrator. As you can imagine, the story takes place in a small town in Montana during the year 1948. David is a grown man now, but we can tell he is recalling an incident that occurred in his small town when he was a young boy. David lived with his parents, grandfather, and his caretaker, Marie Little Soldier, who was a Sioux. Marie Little Soldier was basically a Hayden herself. The Hayden family cared for her just as much as she cared for them, so, when she fell ill, they did what any family would have done. They called a doctor...

David's Uncle Frank was the town doctor, and his father Wesley was the sheriff. Frank was a handsome war-hero, and he was also the one person Marie Little Soldier refused to see while she was ill. Now, David and his father are forced to face the true meaning behind this. David, being only 12 years old. And his father, being the sheriff, and Frank's brother. The truth comes out in this novel. The truth about life, courage, love, abuse, and loyalty. How will the Hayden family survive? 

I wish I could write a longer synopsis. Something more detailed, but from the very beginning of the book, Watson keeps his readers on their feet. I truthfully cannot tell you more than this because anything more would spoil the novel. And this is a novel you truly should read!

Watson does such a fine job of blending his characters together, exploring the cultural differences between Indian tribes and white men/women, and telling a story that has stuck with me throughout the years. In this small Montana town, no one is safe from the truth. This book shows us that, eventually, the truth will come out. No matter how long you hide it, Watson is here to tell you that even death cannot keep you from the truth. 

Finally, let me just say how much I enjoyed reading this novel. It was such a nice break from the normalcy of high school "required reading." There were twists, turns, surprises, and it ended brilliantly. But, it wasn't like a mystery novel. It was a novel of trials and tribulations. It was truly a pleasure to read. I know there's no way this is going to happen, but, Mr. Watson, if you're reading this, your book was a breath of fresh air and I hope my little review did it some justice, thank you for writing it.

I give this novel 5/5 stars.

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The Book Thief

Markus Zusak's novel, The Book Thief, paints a picture unlike any other. It is a picture of love, life, death, family, and Nazi Germany. 

Our narrator for this story is rather unusual. (And rather brilliant on Zusak's part.) Death narrates The Book Thief. Yes, that's right, Death. Skeleton body, black-hooded cloak, scythe and all. Later in the novel he describes himself this way: "I am all bluster—I am not violent. I am not malicious. I am a result." When I say he, I am not assuming that Death is a man. Because I feel like Zusak makes it clear that Death is a "thing" in this novel. I am only assigning Death a gender so it is easier to talk and write about him.

Death tells us about The Book Thief and how he had stolen a book that belonged to her long ago. This is how the story begins, Death tells us about the life of Liesel Meminger. She and her brother are being taken away to foster parents, and while they are on the train with their mother, Liesel's brother falls ill and dies. This is mostly due to the poverty Liesel and her family had been living in. Her brother was malnourished and therefore more susceptible to illness. Before she can meet her new family, Liesel attends her brother's funeral. When the gravediggers are burying her brother, a book falls out of one of their pockets, and Liesel steals it without even looking at the title. Not that it would matter much considering she can't read.

When Liesel meets her new family on Himmel Street, she is very shy. Her foster mother, Rosa Hubermann, is angry Liesel's brother died and she doesn't have a boy and girl to foster. Her foster father, Hans, is a very tall, sturdy man whose looks are rather deceiving. Because when Liesel is having nightmares about her brother's death, Hans takes it upon himself to cheer her up by reading her the book she swiped from the funeral: The Gravedigger's Handbook. And when he learns that Liesel does not know how to read, he makes it his goal to teach her how to read and write.

Liesel's next door neighbor and classmate, Rudy Steiner, is in love with Liesel and keeps badgering her for a kiss. A kiss she always refuses to deliver, but does so good-naturedly. Rudy is a dear friend of Liesel's and the only person, other than the Hubermann's that she shares a big secret with. Han's dead friend's son is staying the Hubermann's basement. He is Jewish and running away from the Nazis. 

His name is Max, and he helps Liesel with her reading and writing once Hans' education exhausts itself. They become fast friends, but Max feels very guilty about putting the Hubermann's in this situation. After a risky stunt is pulled by Hans, Max takes it upon himself to leave the Hubermann residence and find a new place to hide out. After this, the book moves pretty quickly. Hans and Rudy's father are put into the military after they disobey the law, Liesel is stealing books from the mayor's house, and one night forever changes the lives of those on Himmel Street.

The Book Thief is such a superb novel. Zusak really did his Homework on Nazi Germany before writing this one out. It's as historically accurate as a book can be, and fans of any type of historical fiction will love it. It explores the inner workings of the war, and how it was seen through a young person's eye. Because, let me remind you, kids don't have prejudices. Prejudice is a learned trait. So, to them, Hitler hating all Jews just doesn't make sense. In fact, it's silly. Not in the "haha" way, but in the lacking-common-sense way. 

I honestly cannot say enough great things about this novel. I myself have read it several times, and it never gets old. This is because it is genuine, extraordinary, hard-hitting, and has a lot of heart. Zusak should be proud of the work he has done in this novel, as it is almost infallible. If you pick up this book, please don't be afraid of its large size. It can be read cover to cover in one day, I promise you that! Also, yes, there is a movie version, and I have to say that it stays very true to the novel. The only thing left out is a Death, and while he is an integral part of the story, I still feel that the movie does the book justice.

I give The Book Thief 5/5 stars.

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