The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

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Best known for his book the Book Thief, Australian born author Markus Zusak has been writing for young adults since the age of seventeen(Grade Saver). Born in Melbourne, Australia to German and Austrian immigrants, Markus Zusak lived a very humble and quite life. However being the youngest of four, Markus sometimes was the forgotten child alongside his brother (“ My Life”).Growing up in a family was the oldest two siblings were idolized, led to some actions that his older brother and he got into. Some of these actions were stealing street signs, store signs and gambling at the local dog track (Underdogs). Also the two brothers got into a lot of trouble at school with other students. These actions caused Markus to not focus on his studies but focus more on being the “tough guy” in school and around the neighborhood. By doing these actions, Markus was looked upon as a bad influence to the neighborhood children (“Biography of Markus Zusak”).Being known as a bad influence, however, did not sit well with him. To deal with the title, Markus and his brother joined a fight club. Here Markus was able to start his journey of finding himself through writing.

Inspired by The Old Man and the Sea, Markus Zusak started his writing career at the age of seventeen when he joined a fight club with his brother. Now at the age of thirty-nine, Markus Zusak has only written five books in his whole career. With his

books brining many praises, Markus has earned numerous writing honors abroad and at home. In his home country of Australia, Markus Zusak has won the Ethel Turner Award, The Book of the Year Award , The Children’s Book of the Year Award, The Ena Noel Award, The Honor Book Award and The Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book Award as wel...

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...’s the book that means everything to me.” (The Book Thief)

All three books written by Markus Zusak follow the same pattern of life experiences he has encountered and the struggle he has dealt with of finding out who he really is in life. Recently in an interview conducted by Mother Daughter Book Club, Markus Zusak, 35, says although that he received help from his wife and extended family, he is struggling with this issue today (Mother Daughter Book Club). He also says that if it were not for joining the fight club as young adult with his brother, he would not be in the same position that he is in today of almost reaching that goal. Through writing books about his life struggle, Markus Zusak has been able to inch closer and closer to his ultimate goal of finding himself and helping others find themselves too just like the book title I Am the Messenger.

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