Set in Nazi Germany during World War II, The Book Thief is a haunting and lyrical novel narrated by an unconventional voice—Death itself—who follows the life of Liesel Meminger, a young girl grappling with loss, love, and the power of words. After her brother’s death, Liesel is sent to live with foster parents Hans and Rosa Hubermann in the impoverished town of Molching. There, she steals her first book, The Gravedigger’s Handbook, sparking an insatiable thirst for stories that becomes her solace amid the horrors of war.
With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, Liesel learns to read and begins secretly sharing stolen books with neighbors during air raids, as well as with Max Vandenburg, a Jewish refugee hidden in their basement. Zusak’s prose is poetic and visceral, weaving themes of resilience, cruelty, and the redemptive power of storytelling into a tapestry of stolen moments—both tender and brutal.
A profound meditation on humanity’s capacity for both destruction and hope, The Book Thief has become a modern classic, celebrated for its originality, emotional depth, and unforgettable narrator.
