This is an unusual book. The sentence structure, the frequent bold print announcements, and the copious German language profanity were quite unexpected. The early chapters were a bit slow, and the perspective was so strange that it took me a while to get used to it. This novel did not hold my attention unfailingly, but in the end I was glad that I read the whole thing. It is a wonderful and worthwhile story.

I became fond of Liesel, papa and Rudy. They are fully believable, fully human characters. The author writes that they were the first characters he actually missed when the writing was done. I certainly miss them since I finished the story. Their love for each other was a wonderful thing to experience. The feelings between Liesel and Max were especially poignant. Zusak describes them in a realistic and heart wrenching way.

The choice of death as the narrator gave the book a unique flavor. While sergeant death is actually quite morbid at times, he or she is a sympathetic and understanding observer of human nature. In the early chapters I found this narrator to be a little too judgmental. I thought that some characters were typecast before I had a chance to know them. However, as the book progresses, these characters are revealed in more complex and realistic fashion. Zusak is a capable writer.

By the end of this book i was Sobing like a baby!! and yes that is a good thing! i read books like no tommarrow but there are only a few which i can truly say are a work of art that all my friends should read! when i got done with this book i imidiently called my friend and barrowed them the book. All in All 10 outta 10

An interesting take on the Holocaust, with Death taking a staring and sympathetic role. A young girl without family is taken in by a couple who become her only mother and father. Her interactions with the children of the town and its adults, especially the mayor's wife, shows a maturity beyond her years.

She arrives at her new home with a book about grave digging that she has retrieved from the cemetery where her brother was buried. Not being able to read the book her new father teaches her to read. This occurs nightly when she awakens after having nightmares and he spends the nights in her room to comfort her.

The horror of the Holocaust becomes real when a young Jewish man comes to their house to hide. The two become friends and reading and writing becomes integral to both of them as they seek some sense out of the disaster happening around them.

Over time she pilfers more books, most of all from the Mayor's library with the tacit approval of his wife, who suffers from the death of her son in the previous war.

The book offers a somewhat sympathetic portrayal of German townspeople caught up in the war and the extermination of the Jews. Some, including her father, are sickened by what they see and try to help but are ostracized and sent to fight in the war. Others caught up in the government propaganda against the Jews show how easy it is to debase their own humanity.

I do recommend the book, it's written for the young adult audience but older readers would find much to value in it as well.

This book is awesome. The author used a unique style to tell the story that I found very enjoyable. He has a beautiful command of the language. The story is fascinating, both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and insightful. It's good choice for a book club and for teenagers.

Although I originally purchased this book to challenge some of my middle school students, it took me three months to get a copy into my classroom. After I read it twice, I passed it to a friend. It was taking too long to make the circuit, so I bought another to take to class, but offered it to a fellow teacher on the way in to the building. You can see where this is going, right? After purchasing three copies, I finally landed one in the classroom- for one class period. Then it was gone, making the circuit of the kids. As far as I have been able to determine, the 26 or 27 people I've loaned it to have all read it completely, most have read it completely twice, and all have found it well worth their time. The audience has ranged from 13 year old football stars to retirees, with clergy, and a few teachers, and a lawyer in between. This is for anyone who reads books, deeply or superficially. Get one, or, better yet, two.

Allan Corduner is a masterful storyteller in his narration of Markus Zusak's The Book Thief.

Our family (children seventeen down to ten years old) listened with complete attention through eleven CDs! The story is sometimes very sad and somewhat graphic, it is after all World War II in Nazi Germany.

It is a sad beginning as Leisel and her brother are sent to live with a foster family and Leisel's brother dies on the way. Leisel's relationship with her foster parents is beautiful. Her relationship with Max is poignant. And her relationship with Rudy is touching.

Leisel is the book thief and it is a must read. I do however, HIGHLY reccommend Allan Corduner's narration.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak a beautiful, that story is interesting and will not let go of the readers attention while the writing style is great. Everything in book, though it may not make sense in the beginning, ties together in the end. The Book Thief is about a girl who lives in Germany during the Second World War. Her mother has left her with foster parents to keep her safe because her mother could not support her. The book's main focus is on the girl and how she learns to manage life in a lower middle class foster home. The girl has a love of books, which she cannot afford, so she feels in order to get them she has to steal them. What I found very interesting about this book was how it was narrated by a character named `Death', who remains very mysterious throughout the entire book. Leisel, the main character, never actually meets the narrator or knows anything about him. I found the fact that the writer did not tell the reader who `Death' is spectacular because it left it to my imagination who this `Death' person is and why he is telling me this story about a girl who lives in Germany during the Second World War. Granted, no book is perfect and there are some irregularities in this book such as Leisel never actually steals any books until a good few hundred pages into the book. Also there is a bit of foreshadowing around the middle of the book, but this is never tied up at the end. That's not to say that I didn't love this book. The book has major strength's, such as ensuring the reader never wants to read another book, because no book will come close in comparison. I hated putting this book down. Every time I put this book down, it was as if I had stopped eating something delicious. I just craved more, but I knew I needed to get my rest. For teachers who need a good World War II book for their classes, I would recommend this. This book gives the reader the war from an `at home' experience through the eyes of a teenager. This book is great any time, of the year, I would HIGHLY recommend it.
P.S. I'm using a Family acc. I am actually a guy.

~Shlomo

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak a beautiful, that story is interesting and will not let go of the readers attention while the writing style is great. Everything in book, though it may not make sense in the beginning, ties together in the end. The Book Thief is about a girl who lives in Germany during the Second World War. Her mother has left her with foster parents to keep her safe because her mother could not support her. The book's main focus is on the girl and how she learns to manage life in a lower middle class foster home. The girl has a love of books, which she cannot afford, so she feels in order to get them she has to steal them. What I found very interesting about this book was how it was narrated by a character named `Death', who remains very mysterious throughout the entire book. Leisel, the main character, never actually meets the narrator or knows anything about him. I found the fact that the writer did not tell the reader who `Death' is spectacular because it left it to my imagination who this `Death' person is and why he is telling me this story about a girl who lives in Germany during the Second World War. Granted, no book is perfect and there are some irregularities in this book such as Leisel never actually steals any books until a good few hundred pages into the book. Also there is a bit of foreshadowing around the middle of the book, but this is never tied up at the end. That's not to say that I didn't love this book. The book has major strength's, such as ensuring the reader never wants to read another book, because no book will come close in comparison. I hated putting this book down. Every time I put this book down, it was as if I had stopped eating something delicious. I just craved more, but I knew I needed to get my rest. For teachers who need a good World War II book for their classes, I would recommend this. This book gives the reader the war from an `at home' experience through the eyes of a teenager. This book is great any time, of the year, I would HIGHLY recommend it.
P.S. I'm using a Family acc. I am actually a guy.

~Shlomo

I read this book so long ago and have just realized that I never reviewed it. What can I say that hasn't already been spoken to...
This is a haunting tale that wraps love, family, ethics, politics and history all into one great read. Any age or gender...I highly reccomend.

My book group chose this as our November selection -- even though we are between the ages of 46 - 55 and this is classified as YA. It was wonderful !!

This book follows Leisel Meminger from the age of 10 to 14 or so with an epilogue after her death. She is a young German girl living in a small town outside of Munich during the days of Hitler/Nazi Party/World War II. Her story is narrated by Death who talks about her life as well as those people closest to her such as her foster parents and neighbors. The level of detail in the writing brings her story alive and is told in such a creative fashion that I'm sure I won't forget it for a long, long time and I will probably re-read again in the future.

My father served in WW2 in Europe and was wounded in France by the Germans. I have always viewed that time in history through an American lense. This book really opened my eyes to what it must have been like for the German civilians caught up in the tyranny of the Third Reich and all the horrors of Hitler. I had never really considered the event from their point of view and I am so glad I was given the opportunity.

I would categorize this book as YA (not younger than high school) or adult fiction due to two things:

1) the novel is pretty graphic in places regarding war injuries as well as the horror the Jews suffered.

2) the narration can be jarring as it goes between Death and the "people" in the book. While a 7th or 8th grade student would probably be fine with the vocabulary and the style, there would need to be a real effort put forward on their part. I think it might feel more like a classroom literature assignment for that age group where, by waiting a year or two, they could truly enjoy it.

A truly great book and highly recommended !

This book is a fast great read. The authors writing style is very unique and keeps the story propelled forward. The stoy is told by a benevolent death figure and gives great insight into his subjects.

My book club read this book and it was a marvelous discussion. There are discussion questions in the back of the paperback edition.

I lived in Germany in the early 80s. I loved it there, loved the people, loved the country, even loved the order. The older people I knew there were, of course, anti-Hitler and assured me that all the Nazis had died in the war because they wanted to. Mostly it was a topic avoided. But this book actually talks about the simple heroes of such a time, the normal people who might otherwise be apolitical but were thrust into an environment where the political is essential and each action must be weighed with its impact on one's ability to survive. The story is stirring and moving, and one that you hate to see end. Though it is classified as a young adult book I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone of any age.

I loved this book. I was fascinated with how this book was written from Deaths point of view. The Book Thief painted a vivid picture of life in Germany during the years of Hitler's rule and how it affected all German citizens including the rich, the poor, the patriots, and the Jews. This has become one of my new favorites.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is very well written and written differently than most books. The book was recommended to me by a friend and will be a book that I keep in my bookshelf.

In The Book Thief, Zusak's narrator engages the young reader immediately with sensory images (color) and humor. The age of the main character, Liesel, may be the lower limit for the reader of the novel, a good thing to keep in mind for parents who want to read the book with their children. For the characters in the story, reading aloud to family and friends is important as they huddle in a neighbor's basement during air raids. There is no upper limit of reader age for the enjoyment of the book.

The story matures with the characters' development allowing Zusak to introduce images and ideas that are increasingly realistic and disturbing. Strong emotions develop in readers of all ages relating to universal themes of love, loss, devastation, and hope. As time passes, the books Liesel steals in the novel involve increasingly complex ideas about what morality means in an apparently chaotic world.

In many works of art the setting of world war plays a key function in character development. A common denominator is that wars provide an opportunity for the spirit of love to flourish. Although fearful events occur in the lives of Liesel and her friends and family, a life sustaining connection between them is realized and persists. The narrator is astonished by this vital interdependence but is not sentimentally impressed. His/Her preoccupation is the harvesting of souls that are pure and good regardless of the social roles played during people's lives.

The Book Thief provides a wonderful opportunity for families to read aloud and discuss the episodes of the book. Like Liesel, this type of communication can be a uniting experience of shared emotions and can lead to an understanding of the amazing continuity of humanity. Between the horror of the holocaust and the idealized life of a quiet village heroes choose to emerge. Readers of all ages can learn to understand the transcending power of the written word to describe and value our common fate.

The book arrived in good time and in excellent condition. It is a remarkable read.

I teach a college class on young adult literature, and that is what led me to this book. While this book is perfectly acceptable as young adult, I'm afraid that classification will scare away a lot of adult readers who would enjoy this book. In fact to truly appreciate it, you might benefit from a more complete knowledge of WWII than a lot of young people have. The style of the writing is unconventional and that might also make it more appealing to sophisticated readers of any age. I'm not certain the sylistic quirks such as the bold face listing are necessary or affectations. All that aside it is a fascinating story with interesting characters that defies preconceptions and works on many levels. For me it addresses the question of how the people under Hitler's rule could allow such a thing to happen. The power of books and words, the definition of family, sense of identity, and ownership are other themes that are explored.

This is a powerfully moving story, beautifully written. Your heart will break by the end, if it wasn't already broken before that. The writing, oh, the writing. Exquisitely told by the sensitive, omniscient Death, who is haunted by us humans.

"Summer came. For the book thief, everything was going nicely. For me, the sky was the color of Jews. When their bodies had finished scouring for gaps at the door, their souls rose up. When their fingernails had scratched at the wood and in some cases were nailed into it by the sheer force of desperation, their spirits came toward me, into my arms, and we climbed out of those shower facilities, onto the roof and up, into eternity's certain breadth. They just kept feeding me. Minute after minute. Shower after shower." p.340

This novel is an eye opener about what life was like for Germans under Hitler during WWII. Clearly the Huberman family was extremely ordinary and yet wonderfully out of the ordinary at the same time. This ordinary German family had a son fighting on the Russian front while they simultaneously hid a Jew in their cellar. The power of this book lies in its out of the ordinary perspective (as told by the grim reaper)about very ordinary people. And ordinary people can do exceptional things, accomplish extraordinary feats, and make one proud to be a member of the human race. Under Hitler, life was hell in Germany for many good Germans, too. This powerful novel explores in depth the life of one of those remarkable families. Like Bernhard Schlink's "The Reader," "The book thief," makes one rethink one's stereotypical image of the heartless, guilty Germans of WWII. It offers an explanation for why condeming an entire people for any reason is not acceptable. Good souls exist in all settings in virtually all times.

I loved this novel, and I must confess that I had serious reservations about it. I mean, it was hard for me to imagine being sympathetic with a German family in the midst of WWII. But I was wrong--the family is wonderful, the characters memorable. I especially loved the way the story was told--through the voice of Death. I definitely would recommend this novel. It's an anti-war book, which we certainly need right now.

This was simply an awesome book for general reading but also for the depth put into the day-to-day living of an ordinary german in ww2. The narrator was extraordinary chilling and the graphics made we stop in mid-stream. Awesome, awesome

In a word: Fabulous. One of the top 20 novels I have ever read. It transports the sensibilities of Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird to Nazi Germany (of all locales). The writing is truly poetic. It moved me like few other books. I have alrady alerted numerous people to this unforgetable saga. I have little to add to the other glowing reviews except for again pointing out the fully-formed characterizations of every major and most minor actors. The love stories-Mama and Papa; Papa and Liesel; Liesel and Max; and especially Liesel and Rudy displayed the greatest humanity within the most terrible of crucibles.

This may well have been the most beautifully written book that I've read in years. The story is compelling and the narrative is absolutely exquisite. This novel should be listed and marketed as adult fiction. The "young adult" categorization will turn some readers away and it will be their loss. Do not pass this one up.

but by the time I wiped away the tears at the end of it I knew I needed to give it five. This book was released as an adult book, rather than young adult in Australia. I picked it up, having never heard of it or anything about it. It was obvious from the first few pages who the narrator was, so I'm not sure why there seems to be a lot of reviewers who say they were confused about it. This book was very easy to read and did have an interesting storyline, coupled with loveable characters. All of the charactes have some flaw in their personality. That is what makes them real and that is what makes you relate to them. This is going to be one of those books that I continue to re-read for years to come.

Liesel Meminger and Death are not strangers. She saw him when he took her brother's soul. And he kept tabs on the interesting little girl throughout her life until it was time to take her soul. In between, he took the souls of many of her loved ones and even more strangers. After all, it was Nazi Germany, WWII was raging at home and abroad, and there was no lack of lives lost and souls to reap.

11-year-old Liesel was taken in by foster parents when her mother could no longer take care of her. Frightened by her new surroundings and by the recent loss of her brother, Liesel had heartwrenching nightmares night after night. But her new Papa, Hans Hubermann has a heart of gold and becomes the father she did not previously have. Her new Mama, Rosa, subscribes to the book of tough love and cuts Liesel no slack. But with her new parents and her best friend, Rudy, she finds a place on Himmel Street and finds herself. She discovers the power of words when her father teaches her to read and write. And it is these words that motivate her to become a book thief. She steals the books she cannot afford to buy and they become her most prized possessions.

This is a book of humanity set in a time when there was so little of it. It is the insight into the plight of the Jews as experienced by sympathetic Germans. It is Death's insight into humans and "his" observations of our nature. It is moving and beautifully written. The pages fly and you will not want to put it down. A unique perspective on Germany during WWII, this book is not to be missed.

This novel is a must-read for everyone, young adults and adults alike. I was completely captivated by this story and the style in which it was written. Zusak's approach to Death as the narrator is unique and engaging, and his voice is sometimes cynical, sometimes sympathetic. He tells the story of young Liesel as she is sent to live with foster parents outside of Munich in the heart of Nazi Germany during WWII. The relationships she forms over the next few years are so compelling: Rudy, her best friend, Hans, her adopted Papa, Max, the resident Jew in hiding, the mayor's wife who owns an enviable library, and a cast of others who add so much dimension to this novel. Mostly, though, it is about Liesel's love of the written word and her determination to acquire books at any cost.

The most captivating part, however, is the last 30 pages when Liesel's story comes to a dramatic end. Be prepared to have some tissue on hand and to sit quietly for a time to ponder this extraordinary book. I will forever be haunted by the quiet silver eyes of Papa, the incessant cursing of Mama, and the lemon yellow hair of Rudy. But especially, I will not forget the image of Liesel finding comfort in books during a tumultuous time in human history.

I just finished reading this book last night and I want to read it again right now! The characters are so vivid, I miss them. If you let it, this book will touch your heart.

The amount of five star reviews on this book is not surprising because it was an interesting and engaging read. The story is written in a style I have never encountered before and I was engrossed throughout.

The reason it gets a three star review from me is because its not a book I'd buy, put on my book shelf and read over and over again.

Was it good? Yes.
Did I enjoy it? Yes.
What it original and unique? Yes.

Would I read it again? Not likely.

The is probably one of the best books I have ever read in my like. The author has struck up a methodology of writing that is very unique and as such is very captivating. It's a book about a subject - death - done in such a way that the reader will never forget the essence of the book.

If you are open to reading something very intriguing, sad, yet optomistic, give this book a try.

I read the first few pages of this book standing in line at the bookstore. The beginning was mysterious, but started to paint a picture of a narrator that seemed defeated. The narrator turns out to be Death, speaking to us from the Nazi Germany during WW2. Death, ironically, is afraid of humans. This set the book off with a delightfully fresh concept.

The story is not meant to be a complex one, though there are a number of complex themes in the book. It involves Death, who comes to us during a busy time for him in world history--the Second World War. He follows the story of a young girl who goes to live with a foster family. The simplicity of following her development, her friends, her foster parents, and her time in the Hitler Youth make this book very honest. Though there is a clear plot, revealed partially in the beginning and unfolded properly by the end of the book, the characters that are established are what I particularly enjoyed.

Some of the themes of this book are Death (obviously) and the human reaction to it (Him?) and words--Hitler is known to be a master of words and propaganda and the girl followed in the book learns to read and write through (mostly) stolen books. She shows a parallel power of words as Death learns her story mostly through the book she wrote.

The book is tragic at times, but still ends without leaving the reader feeling empty. If you read this book, don't expect Heaven and Earth to be moved. Read it to meet the characters and, possibly, grow to care for them. I had never heard of it before I saw it in the bookstore. I read it because the first few pages drew me in. I only found out about the hype after the fact. No expectations and reading just to enjoy it are the way to go with this book. It is simple, subtle, and astonishingly good.

A group of ladies (all over 65) decided that even though we meet once a month, we needed at least once during the year to read and review a book. Book thief was suggested, but acknowledged that it was during a depressing time of history. I thought I would read the book and then get on to more pleasant reading. I was surprised at what an excellent book this was. I found the story, completely fascinating, and the point of view of the narrator to be excellent. I couldn't put it down. It was a depressing time in Nazi Germany, but a new look at the era. Great book

A heartwarming tale that grabs you by the hand and never lets you go till the end. This is a tale of a pre-teen girl living and growing up in Nazi Germany. It tells of her joys and sorrows and the interesting people she meets along the way. As the title implies, she steals books. The young girl in the story thirsts for knowledge and so begins her book stealing career as a way to understand the world around her. I personally loved this book because it delves into the "other" Germany--the people who had no choice or say in their government's policies and atrocities but were in many ways just as much victims as Germany's other enemies.
The story is told by death and he/she/it constantly interrupts to give the reader certain insights. I found that off putting at first and I was really irritated by the constant interruptions. But it gets better either because I began to mind the interruptions alot less, or because the interruptions become less frequent. The story will make you laugh and there were times that I thought that my heart would burst cause I was so tense. I almost cried during certain scenes cause you feel the lack of humanity in some people and the surprising boldness of others to take a stand for goodness. A delightful tale and I would highly recommend it.

Excellent book about life in Germany during WWII. It brought back many memories of stories my mother told me about Germany before she was able to flee with her family to the United States.

This is the strangest book I have ever read. The phrasing, word pictures and narrative form are exceptional (and sometimes unfathonable) and take some concentration to understand. Some parts have to be re-read to get the meaning and sometimes I never did get the meaning. This book makes you think and I am glad I read it. I went immediately and got another novel by this author.

This is a wonderful book! I find myself recommending it to people all the time. It touches you, makes you smile and sad and read in anticipation of whatever will come next. It is not your typical World war 2 horror story but you feel the horror in nearly every chapter. Read it and you find yourself with the urge to share it with everybody you know.

You will recommend The Book Thief to all your friends, but never want to part with your own copy, because you'll want to read it again. Much of the prose is astounding. Although it may be recommended for young adults, this work is rich in creativity and depth of its characters and truly is a book for all ages. It will be a classic and it is no wonder that it has won many awards.

Zusak immediately thrusts us into the inventive character of Death as the narrator: 'Here is a small fact. You are going to die.' It is then we meet Liesel, a young German girl who has suffered the death of her younger brother, the disappearance of her mother and her placement in the Huberman foster home. Her foster mother, Rosa, has a harsh demeanor but her foster father, Hans, her friend, Rudy Steiner, and a Jew named Max -each help her find her own way in Nazi Germany. Leisel steals her first book at the grave of her brother and learns to read it from her foster father. Later, she steals more books from the Mayor's wife and learns the power of words, even how the words of Hitler influence a nation.

Teachers of literature should recommend this book to their students so they can learn to appreciate the genius of how words are used to captivate and enlighten. In a brief sentence, Zusak can paint a picture, deliver an emotional punch and skillfully use language to transport the reader to another place and time. This work is a sheer joy to read!

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book given the subject matter. I loved it. I found the story haunting and thought provoking. Markus Zusak's writing is creative and poetic. I definitely encourage readers to check this one out.

I have never felt compelled to write a review until now because I feel so strongly about this book. This story is told from such a unique perspective and is so creatively written. There is so much heart and feeling in this book that i was sad for it to come to an end. I will definitely be reading it again and I've been recommending it to everyone, and so far I've gotten nothing but positive feedback.
It is a touching story with characters that you will truly fall in love with. Read this book and even if you don't love it as much as I did, you'll still be glad you did :)

CD set stolen. since i didn't listen to any more than the first CD, i cannot make a review for you. Sorry.

Excellent, excellent, excellent book! Written in a truly unique voice that keeps you wanting to read on. This book will stay with you long after you've finished it. Highly recommend!

This book touched me deeply, so much so that I purchased extra copies as gifts for good friends.

You have to spend a little time early on to get used to the style though -- but it's well worth it.

Highly recommmended

Lovely book, definitely not as good as "The Book Thief", but still nicely written. I was a bit disappointed in the ending.

This item arrived in good shape in reasonable time. Reading this for a bookclub I am in.

Should I decide to compile a list of the ten best books I have ever read, this would definitely be included. I didn't want the book to end. I wanted to keep reading and reading and reading, however, naturally I still wanted to know how it ended. I did finish it and would like to read more of Markus Zusak's work.

This book stole my heart away and wrapped itself around my brain until i was unable to get through my day without thinking about it and grabbing it when i was supposed to be doing something else. it is an amazing story, told in an original way. having death tell the story, but having death not be threatening, only observant, was an amazingly different point of view. the summarizations, the drawings, the poems, the quotations, the characters, ---- the story. this is a book that should be read by all who love literature, language and story telling. and one to share with one's friends and loved ones.

The Book Thief is a must read!
It is written in a unique, rather brilliant style, having an almost magical feel to it.
The story is powerful...as the bare truth often is.
one of the best books I have ever read!

Thanks to many critics' lists of best contemporary books, I took notice of this masterpiece of a novel. This is not only my favorite book of the past year, this is one of my top five favorite books ever. This brilliant story of loss and the pursuit of love and belonging could have been set in any time or location. Nevertheless, the setting also serves as one of the best accounts of life on WWII Germany's home front I've ever read. The story is told with beautifully simple and often poetic language and the characters are treated with a restraint that is masterful. The setting and the characters were so vivid and alive that I felt as if I too had lived with the Hubermann's on Himmel Street. While I highly encourage teenagers to read this novel, I do hope that they will read it again as a young adult and yet again as an older adult. This book has so much to teach us all regardless of our stage of life. Within hours of reading the last chapter, I found myself hurrying to pass the book along to a loved one. However, I'll soon buy another copy for I will definitely find myself reading this many times over in the coming years.

Markus Zusak has done an amazing job on his book "The Book Thief". I have heard that the book will be made into a movie, and I really hope this is true! This is one of my favorite books of all time!

It starts out in the 1930s in Nazi Germany in a train, where a little girl (Liesel Meminger) and her mother and younger brother are. They are on their way in the snowy weather to go to a foster home, where the mother is going to leave Liesel and her brother. Liesel's father was a Communist, and he had already been rounded up by the Nazis and sent to a Concentration Camp. His wife was left alone with two young children, and she simply could not take care of them. The boy dies in the train, so Liesel is left and sent off to the foster home of Rosa and Hans Hubermann.

The rest of the book tells a happy-yet-sad story of Liesel during her few years on Himmel Street, including her new best friend Rudy, and her eccentric step-parents.

I would recommend this fantastic book to anybody in 7th or 8th grade through adult. Any age between then would be blown away by this amazing story.

This book was much better than I thought it would be. It was recommended to me by my daughter and we don't normally agree on books. After reading the first couple of chapters I still couldn't decide if I wanted to keep with it or not; but after a couple of more I couldn't put it down. It provides the reader with a different perspective than is normally published on the German people during WW II. If you have any interest in that time period you won't be disappointed in The Book Thief.

Although the central character in The Book Thief is Liesel Meminger, the narration for the duration of the novel is done by Death. So Death's point of view understands and seems to know all about who he will meet along the way in Nazi Germany. Death is neither overly sentimental (a few exceptions of course apply) nor acutely malevolent or terrifying. He's just a voice that accepts the many ways people come to him, one way or another, and in fact sits back and watches the barbarity of humans. He sees the ugliness, brutality and beauty of mankind, and seems to feel the most pity for Himmel Street, where Leisel and her new family reside. Still, he is detached, and waits for all to come to him.

Liesel is nine when she becomes a foster child for the Hagerman's after seeing her brother and mother die. She learns to love the new, adopted family she has, and because she has stolen The Grave Digger's Handbook from her brother's burial place, she has a fascination with books and wants to learn to read. One book isn't enough, and after Hans Huber Mann teaches her to read, she has many adventure with Rudy, neighbor boy who is a fan of Jessie Owens, stealing books and other things. Liesel becomes absorbed in novels, and each book is a symbol of an event in the story.

One of the more unique characters is Max Vandenburg, the Jew who hides in the Hagerman's' basement. Similar to Liesel, he comes to this house a stranger trying to make an adjustment after a difficult past experience. Max's stay at the house gives Liesel a stronger purpose because she looks after him as Hans Huber Mann once looked after her. Max connects with the child because he has a strong imagination, an introspective way of looking at things. Max gives Liesel a gift, The Standover Man, which encompasses and signifies all the ideas that link these two characters.

Markus Zusak has a powerful ability to create a poetic, deep narrative, using symbols, and examining the issue of courage, hope, and despair during a troubling and confusing time. Unusually written, as we are often moving back and forth in time between what the reader knows and will know, and given poems as to clues of the plot, Zusak's creates a unique story. Although you are likely to find this book in the young adult section of your bookstore, it seems pretty "mature" in its voice, and should have been left in the fiction section.

While there is so much more going on in the novel, there is much about the background of Nazi Germany, and those who either oppose or dissent from those ideals. Zuzak gives a haunting description of the barbarity, and hopelessness, of this oppression from the eyes of Liesel: "As she watched all of this, Liesel was certain these were the poorest souls alive...Others pleaded for someone, anyone, to step forward and catch them in their arms. No one did."

This is a story that is intense, and leaves an impression. A very creative story here, one that I will definitely read again. Five stars all the way.