The Book Thief

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
Published by Alfred A. Knopf (2005)
550 pages; ages 12+

Synopsis: Liesel Meminger’s brother dies, and her parents have abandoned her, leaving her to foster parents Hans and Rosa Hubermann in Germany while Nazi’s swarm the country. After stealing her first book, The Grave Digger’s Handbook, Liesel’s desire to read leads her seek help from Hans as she learns to read. After getting two more books for Christmas, Liesel becomes enthralled with books and reading, and she begins stealing them. While Liesel meets friends like Rudy Steiner and goes to school, she sees a change in the town—Jewish shops are boarded up, Nazis patrol the streets, people speak in hushed voices, and the Hubermanns start housing a Jew in their basement. From this Jew, Liesel learns that she is not alone in the world, and that Germans and Jews are not so different.

Genre: Historic Fiction; New Realism/Problem

Warning: some language, as well as some German terms that may be seen as offensive to those who speak German. There are also some moderate graphic images related to death and abuse.

Recommendations: Incantation by Alice Hoffman; I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak; Mara's Stories by Gary D. Schmidt; The Night Journey by Kathryn Lasky; Night by Elie Wiesel; Numbering the Stars by Lois Lowry