“If they killed him tonight, at least he would die alive.” (Zusak, p. 168) Four hundred words could never be enough to explain why everyone needs to read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, but I will try my best. The Book Thief is a novel set in Nazi-occupied Germany that is narrated by Death as a character. Throughout the book, Death depicts dying as a relief. The fact that death was so prominent during World War Two makes Death the perfect choice of narration. Death takes you on a journey that revolves around Liesel Meminger, a poor girl who relishes words and begins to steal books. The naivety of the young main character and the omniscient realism of the narrator strikes a beautiful balance when reading this story. It is a story about the beauty of mundane, everyday life entangled with world-altering historical events. It is a story of finding family and unlikely friendships. The Book Thief is wonderfully written and causes you to connect with and form attachments to all the characters. Although written for a young adult audience, The Book Thief is a novel that connects with everyone, no matter what age. I consider The Book Thief a classic work of literature although it was published in 2005. The Book Thief will stand the test of time, and I will be happy to witness it. The book is thought-provoking, charming, and tragic. The Book Thief educates its readers about World War Two and gives perspective on what this terrifying period was like for the citizens of Germany, especially children. Once you finish The Book Thief, you do not stop thinking about it, for it has a strong emotional impact on its readers. The relationships of The Book Thief are what truly connect the reader to the story. All relationships in this novel are well thought out, and they illustrate the tenderheartedness of friendships formed under adverse circumstances. When a book has a significant impact on its readers, it increases empathy. Empathy is something that the world needs now more than ever. Reading about emotional experiences and being affected by these emotions can increase empathy. If I could have every person in the world read one book, I would choose The Book Thief because of the education and emotional impact that come with it. If everyone read The Book Thief, we would all be a little more compassionate.

Late at night, one could find me in my room scribbling away on a sticky note. This is the picture of me, Isabella Deel, calculating how many pages I need to read per day to finish the book I am currently reading in a certain amount of time. I know, even as I am doing the math, that using a calculator would be much faster and easier. However, the joy that comes from figuring something out myself is the thing that keeps me scribbling away. Ever since I was young, I loved to use mental math in various situations. Most of the time, I used mental math to calculate the time until school let out or the time until my friends were to come over for a sleepover. During car rides, I even enjoyed calculating the time that I would arrive at my grandparents’ house or any other place I was headed. My love for mental calculations was even helpful to my parents, for this love kept me from asking “Are we there yet?” constantly. I love math because it causes me to think. Unlike other subjects that cause students to simply memorize and recite facts, math causes students to think logically. In math class, you take what you know and apply it to the situation. In math class you are truly learning something. I love that math can be used in almost any area of life. Math class is where I learned to count, where I learned to tell time, where I learned how to find the area of a square, and where I learned the algebraic properties. Math is a plethora of different things that build on top of one another. Every school year, I learn something new about math. I love that math continues to build. Every math class you can take will somehow play into the one you took before and the one you will take after. It is like a big puzzle. I love the feeling of accomplishment that comes with learning and understanding math. When I am learning about this subject, I take satisfaction in the fact that I am thinking critically and logically. When l am learning more about math, I can truthfully say that I am learning. I am incredibly grateful for that.

Late at night, one could find me in my room scribbling away on a sticky note. This is the picture of me, Isabella Deel, calculating how many pages I need to read per day to finish the book I am currently reading in a certain amount of time. I know, even as I am doing the math, that using a calculator would be much faster and easier. However, the joy that comes from figuring something out myself is the thing that keeps me scribbling away. Ever since I was young, I loved to use mental math in various situations. Most of the time, I used mental math to calculate the time until school let out or the time until my friends were to come over for a sleepover. During car rides, I even enjoyed calculating the time that I would arrive at my grandparents’ house or any other place I was headed. My love for mental calculations was even helpful to my parents, for this love kept me from asking “Are we there yet?” constantly. I started enjoying algebra at an early age. As early as third grade, I would skip through my math textbook to find the basic algebra problems. I would complete these equations even though they were not assigned. Now that I am older, math has become a mental workout. I enjoy learning algebra not only because I enjoy it, but also because it is a challenge. Personally, I think it can be difficult to find a subject that is both enjoyable and challenging. I have always thought and said that completing algebra problems feels like you are solving a puzzle. Once everything is put together, it all makes sense. Algebra can be a difficult subject, but that is what makes it so important. Many subjects force students to memorize facts and then repeat them on a test, which is not true learning. Algebra and other math cannot be passed through memorization. Rather, algebra is a subject that is passed through application. All sectors of mathematics challenge students to apply what they have learned, rather than simply repeat what they memorized at the last minute. This application of knowledge causes students to truly learn and understand the subject for years to come. What keeps math relevant and important is the following fact: Human beings must be able to figure things out on their own. Math teaches critical thinking and logical skills that are crucial for a person to become a functioning adult. A person uses the skills they learn in math class throughout their entire life. From basic math to algebra, mathematics is a subject that cannot be overlooked or discarded. I love the feeling of accomplishment that comes with learning and understanding math. When I am learning algebra, I take satisfaction in the fact that I am thinking critically and logically. Algebra makes me feel proud of my abilities, no matter what my grade turns out to be. When l am learning math, I can truthfully say that I am learning. I am incredibly grateful for that.