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Knopf

The Book Thief

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1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE’S 100 BEST YA BOOKS OF ALL TIME • A NEW YORK TIMES READER TOP 100 PICK FOR BEST BOOKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY • A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE CENTURY The extraordinary, beloved novel about the ability of books to feed the soul even in the darkest of times. When Death has a story to tell, you listen. It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion- playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time. “The kind of book that can be life- changing.” —The New York Times “Deserves a place on the same shelf with The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.” —USA Today DON’T MISS BRIDGE OF CLAY, MARKUS ZUSAK’S FIRST NOVEL SINCE THE BOOK THIEF. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knopf Books for Young Readers; First Edition (September 11, 2007)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 608 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0375842209


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 07


Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10+ years, from customers


Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 730L


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.19 x 1.26 x 8 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #1 in Teen & Young Adult Holocaust Historical Fiction #2 in Children's Holocaust Historical Fiction Books #12 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • A beautiful piece of work you need to read
The ‘Book Thief’ is set in Germany during World War 2 where being a Nazi was displayed in every street. The book focuses on the main character Liesel Meminger who has just lost her brother while on the way to being given away to a foster family in the town Molching with Rosa and Hans Hubermann. Once Liesel settles into her foster family she explores her town and meets other people including her best friend Rudy Steiner which then leads to her exploring her interest in books which “coincidentally” connects to the book title. Liesels life gets a big obstacle when Max Vadenburg, who is a Jewish man, comes into Liesel's home and he has to hide in her basement while the family is already being suspected of being against Nazi views. The Book Thief explores challenges Liesel has to face and tragedies that occur due to living under Nazi rule. Overall there wasn’t anything I disliked about this book and I think a huge part of it was because of how much I liked the scenes given to us along with the characters. For example, the book-burning scene is strong as we see the people's ability to learn the truth being taken away. At the same time, we also see Liesel being rebellious when she steals a book from the ashes, marking a quiet rebellion against the Nazis. Then we have heartwarming scenes in the book like when Hans Hubermann teaches Liesel how to read. Then we are given the friendship of Liesel and Max who is the Jewish man in her basement, they have a touching relationship as Liesel treats him kindly and their connection grows stronger when he gives her a hand-drawn book. Since this book brings both dark, strong, and heartwarming scenes you can’t complain about not getting one of them. I feel like this is done because the book is narrated by Death, Death doesn’t focus on the negative, it's only made to tell Liesel's story. The characters in the book are characters you wouldn’t forget because they each have their traits. Liesel who is the main character stands out the most because of how rebellious she is even during the Nazi time and we’re able to see her figure out who she is during this time while having to go through obstacles. The way each character was written is a reason why I didn’t dislike this book because you never get bored with them, even if you seem to hate them, they’ll still give you a reaction. [SPOILER ALERT] In the end, the book is a book I'll never forget but it’s because of the tragic ending it has in which the town Liesel lives in gets bombed and Liesel loses almost everyone she loves, excluding the Jewish man Max in the basement. It’s a heartbreaking tragedy that will most likely get you to tear up or even cry (I cried) Markus Zusak has a writing style that is one you never see in other books because he was able to write this book in the narration of Death. With the book being told by Death you are already given foreshadows of what will happen in the book but it’s also an explanation of why the book has a dark tone while also being neutral because Death isn’t on either side, it’s only there to collect and observe. Then the book is slow paced which is what allowed us to get a deeper connection with the characters and the author gave us many scenes that either gave us a wake-up call on what each character had to go through or gave us details on what made each character them. Aside from the author's being able to write the book as if they’re Death, the characters are what made the storyline, without them the setting in Nazi Germany wouldn’t have had such a strong impact. Nazi Germany was already a tough time to live in but the author adding a Jewish character that they had to hide made the storyline more interesting. Aside from the Jewish character, Markus made other unique characters and each has their own story that makes you either like them or not. For example, Rosa Hubermann who you can say is Liesel's foster mom, has a strong personality where she comes off as rude and it seems she doesn’t have much care towards Liesel or her husband Hans Hubermann. Throughout the story and especially in the end the author lets us get a deeper sense of her personality and that she truly cares for her husband and Liesel. The actions that she does are made to help her family even if they seem as harsh as she just wants to protect them and keep them afloat. Then her husband, Hans Hubbermann is a character that was made for everyone to love, Hans doesn’t show any dislike towards Liesel and is the one to help her settle in and learn more about the world. In the book, Hans helps Liesel learn to read which helps Liesel's obsession with reading books. The author did an awesome job of making Hans a caring father figure for Liesel which did not help with [SPOILER ALERT] seeing Hans die at the end. Then we have the main character Liesel Meminger whose unique character was created because of what’s been thrown onto her life like losing her brother, being sent away to a foster family, and having to adapt to the Nazi world and being careful of what she does and says. What makes her even more interesting is her rebellious nature, like her stealing the books and she even goes onto stealing food with her new friend Rudy. The characterization was incredible in this book and it’s why it’s so well written and something you don’t see in other books. For ‘The Book Thief’, if you’re a reader who enjoys slower-paced books and stories that connect to World War Two you would enjoy this book a lot as the plot is based on Nazi Germany. There is a lot of historical context, so if you’re a history nerd it’ll be easier to get through this book. Aside from the plot being based on Nazi Germany, the book has a lot of poetic writing and powerful scenes that aren’t action filled but shows a lot of symbolism. It’s similar to books like ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ and the show ‘Anne with an E’ or the movie Jojo Rabbit’. Then those who may dislike this book are readers who like fast-paced books and prefer books that have actual action fighting scenes like ‘Percy Jackson’. This book has a lot of poetic phrases and words that have deep meanings because of the tragic theme. Readers who don’t like heavy-themed books and prefer books that have jokes and light themes wouldn’t like this book either. Overall this book goes through the story of Liesel Meminger who had to live through the time of Nazi Germany and having to adapt to her foster family. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2025 by Yeni
    • A Masterpiece - One of the best novels I have ever read!!
"The Book Thief " is one of the best novels I have read. Truly! Author Markus Zusak's storyline is both sad and wonderful, as it deals with Germany during WWII and the Holocaust. His memorable characters have tremendous depth, and the plot is extremely original. However, what makes this book so extraordinary is the author's writing, which, at times, is more poetry than prose. I frequently found myself reading passages of the elegantly written narrative aloud. Appropriately for the times, Death is our narrator and a major character. Death, the "gatherer of souls," writes of himself, "I do not carry a sickle or scythe. I only wear a hooded black robe when it's cold. And I don't have those skull-like facial features you seem to enjoy pinning on me from a distance. You want to know what I really look like? I'll help you out. Find yourself a mirror while I continue." In the Prologue, Death states, "Here is a small fact: you are going to die. Does that worry you? I urge you - don't be afraid. I'm nothing if not fair." The figure describes himself as amiable, even affable, but warns, "don't ask me to be nice. 'Nice' has nothing to do with me.'" When the novel begins, Death is gearing up for mass production. It is 1939 and WWII has just begun. By 1945 the entire world will be at war. And it is Death who comments on man's inhumanity to mad, almost without emotion, in as objective a manner as possible. This inhumanity will cause it/him to work 24/7 in various places in the world at once. That's what I call multi-tasking. Nine year-old Liesel Meminger is our protagonist, "the book thief," although when we meet her, she is unschooled and cannot read very well. Liesel, her little brother Werner, and their mother are on a train to Munich. All three are skinny and pale, with sores on their lips. It is on the train that Death comes to claim young Werner's soul. Liesel and her mother despair. The boy is buried near the city, and one of the gravediggers, an apprentice, drops a black book as he walks away in the freezing winter weather. Liesel picks up the book, without calling out to notify the gravedigger of his loss. The book is titled, in silver letters, "The Gravedigger's Handbook." It is the first book she steals. So much has been taken from her, the grieving child feels like she settles part of the score when she commits the theft. In Munich the girl's mother bids her good-bye and turns her over to a foster care woman. The mother disappears, never to be seen again. Liesel and the woman make their way to a small town, Molching, on the outskirts of Munich, close to the Dachau death camp. They stop at a small house on Himmel Street, where her new foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann, await the little girl. Hans is a kind and loving man who quickly takes to Liesel and visa versa. Rosa is also basically kind, although she puts up a front as a shrewish loudmouth. She is a laundress by trade and Hans is a house painter who loves to play the accordion. He is not a member of the Nazi Party. When he realizes he is losing customers because of his lack of enthusiasm for Hitler and the Nazis, he tries to join but his papers are on permanent hold. Their two children are grown and live away from home. Liesel has terrible nightmares and occasionally wets the bed. Hans, hearing her late night screams, sits with her and comforts her, sometimes until dawn. Occasionally he plays the accordion for her until Rosa yells at him to "shut up!" The empathetic, kindly man and the traumatized little girl form a close bond and Hans begins to teach Liesel to read, especially as she is fascinated by words. She believes that words have great power, after all, Hitler didn't need guns to persuade the German people to follow him and to hate Jews. He used words. When she begins school and the teacher realizes that the girl can't read, she is placed in a class with younger children. Most humiliating! It is during one of Liesel's frequent nightmares, that Hans begins to teach her to read. Since the Hubers have no books of their own, Hans uses Liesel's "The Gravedigger's Handbook." as a teaching tool. Then another book, a copy of "Mein Kampf," is acquired, one of the few available books which have not been burned. And yet another book, "The Shoulder Shrug." which Liesel snatches from a pile of burning books, is added to her collection. "Germans loved to burn things. Shops, synagogues, Reichstags, houses, personal items, books and of course, people." Eventually, Liesel acclimates to her new home and makes friends, especially with Rudy, the boy next door and her biggest fan. She never overcomes her nightmares, however, nor does she ever forget her mother and brother. It is at this time when she is forced to join Hitler Youth. Then Max Vandenberg, a German Jew in hiding, comes to ask Hans to fulfill a promise he made to his father, a comrade in arms who saved Hans' life during WWI. A Jew seeking refuge...what to do? Hans, an honorable man, feels obligated to keep his promise, even though it would mean death for Rosa and himself if Max were discovered in their home. Liesel is sworn to secrecy. The Hubers take the man in and set up living quarters for him in the basement. Max becomes part of the family and forms a close friendship with Liesel. She becomes his eyes and ears to the outside world. He eventually writes a book for her, "The Standover Man" - a simple, illustrated and haunting book about what it is like to be born Jewish in Hitler's Germany. Life goes on. Liesel learns to read and steals more books - fourteen in all. She and her friends adventure. Germany declares war on Russia. Death's work increases, especially on the eastern front and in the concentration camps. He/it feels overwhelmed by the souls to collect from the camps, gas chambers, battlefields, and causalities from air-raid bombings. Max begins to do crossword puzzles in the old newspapers Liesel occasionally finds for him. Rosa's and Han's workload diminishes significantly. Times are tough, rationing is strict, and people don't have money to send out their laundry or to have their houses painted. And, of course, Hans carries the stigma of not belonging to the Party. I don't want to include any spoilers, so I will stop my summary here. This is a powerful novel that kept me riveted throughout. As I wrote above, I sometimes stopped to read parts of the prose aloud. There is humor here also. One needs comic relief when reading a novel about such a heinous period in mankind's history. Markus Zusak's parents grew up in Nazi Germany and Austria. He frequently thought of writing about the things his parents had seen during the war. He says he thought about the "importance of words in that time, and what they were able to make people believe and do." The novel's last words belong to Death: "A LAST NOTE FROM YOUR NARRATOR: I am haunted by humans." Jana Perskie ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2009 by Jana L.Perskie

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