The Book Thief
Book - 2016
1101934182
9780399556524
9780375842207


Opinion
From the critics

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Age Suitability
Add Age Suitabilitypink_panda_2739 thinks this title is suitable for between the ages of 8 and 8
green_panda_1079 thinks this title is suitable for 11 years and over
Quotes
Add a Quote"I carried them in my fingers, like suitcases. Or I'd throw them over my shoulder. It was only the children I carried in my arms."
First the colors.
Then the humans.
That's usually how I see things.
Or at least, how I try.
Imagine smiling after a slap in the face. Then think of doing it twenty-four hours a day.
A small announcement about Rudy Steiner. He didn't deserve to die that way.
“If only she could be so oblivious again, to feel such love without knowing it, mistaking it for laughter. ”
― Markus Zusak
Notices
Add NoticesFrightening or Intense Scenes: a few gruesome deaths, bombings, lifeless bodies.
Coarse Language: The bad language is in German, but Death translates it to English. Nothing serious, but certainly not for younger readers.
Frightening or Intense Scenes: The "parade" of Jews was a bit frightening, and the whipping and war.
Summary
Add a SummaryLiesel Meminger is only nine years old when she is taken to live with the Hubermanns, a foster family, on Himmel Street in Molching, Germany, in the late 1930s. She arrives with few possessions, but among them is The /Grave Digger's Handbook/, a book she stole from her brother's burial place. During the years that Liesel lives with the Hubermanns, Hitler becomes more powerful, life on Himmel Street becomes more fearful, and Liesel becomes a full-fledged book thief. She rescues books from Nazie book-burnings and steals from the library of the mayor. Liesel is illiterate when she steals her first book, but Hans Hubermann uses her prized books to teach her to read. This is a story of courage, friendship, love, survival, death, and grief. This is Liesel's life on Himmel Street, told from Death's point of view.
(Summary in back of book.)
The story of a young girl under Nazi Germany. When her family hides a Jew in the basement, her life changes forever. Her thirst for books begins when she was illiterate. Slowly, books play an enormous part in her story.
About a Germany girl during WWII who is living with a foster family hiding a Jew.
Liesel Meminger, an illiterate girl in Nazi Germany loves books. At her brothers funeral she finds her first book, the Grave Diggers Handbook. With the help of her foster father, Hans Hubermann she learns to read and desires more books. However with World War 2 her family is sinking deeper into poverty and cannot afford to buy her books. So she resorts to stealing them. She takes them wherever she can find them, but only what she needs never more. But Liesel's life gets even more dangerous when her foster father repays a debt by taking in a Jew on the run. Liesel then realizes some unsettling facts about Nazi Germany and Hitler. This book is Liesel Meminger's story, told by Death.
In brief, I will say a few things about this book (I am on my mothers library page) 1. It is amazing
2. Always look at the pictures they feature very intensely in the story.
The Book Thief
the book thief is about young girl, living in Nazi Germany, who, as the title suggests, is a book thief. Or a collector of second hand books, however you wish to put it. Narrated by death, it will guide you through great joys and great sorrows. (A note, death loves colours, Also, I have noticed the colour patterns in a few other books) Liesel steals her first book at her brothers funeral. That was the last time she ever saw her mother. Along her "illustrious career" her foster parents take an old, dead, acordian playing, jewish friends son into the custody of their basement. A basement that will save her alone, well, along with a story. The basement doesn't save her best friend, Rudy Stiener. I'm not telling any more, otherwise I'll spoil it for you.
"It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel 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 before he is marched to Dachau.
This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul."
Introduction: During WWII in 1939, Liesel and her brother are being taken to Molching, Germany with her mother, to live with foster parents. Sadly, her little brother dies on the train and is buried along the way there. This is when Liesel steals her first book, (Gravedigger’s Handbook- marks brother’s death). Entering her new home, Liesel finds most comfort and love with her new father- Hans Hubermann. Stealing books becomes somewhat of a hobby now, as it motivates her to learn to read and write. An important aspect of the introduction is the hint at Liesel’s background. She learns more about why, how, and what actually happened to her real parents. As of right now, all we know is that Hans is gentle/welcoming, and that Rosa may need anger-management classes.
Rising Action: After the book-burning celebration for Hitler’s birthday, Liesel realizes that the Nazis are responsible for all of her losses. At this point, she steals another book (the Shoulder Shrug- marks hatred for Hitler). Along with her friendship with Rudy Steiner, good friend from school, she forms a relationship with the mayor’s wife, who lets Liesel in her library every time she comes by for laundry (as she saw Liesel’s interest in stealing the Shoulder Shrug). But when the wife, Ilsa, ends the laundry service, Liesel is infuriated and begins stealing her books. Eventually though, forgiveness awakes due to a complicated friendship that was always present. Back to Rudy, he’s a fearless boy with lemon hair, and he wants Liesel’s lips. Remember that. Meanwhile, there’s the story of Hans Hubermann and his great friend during WWI who saved Hans’s life and died in consequence. This friend happens to be a Jew, and his son is now seeking help with Hans, in hiding from the Nazis. Expectedly, the family is worried about the potential situation, since the act of housing a Jew in WWII was life-jeopardising. But they do, and Max turns out to be very friendly. So does Rosa. Especially Hans.
Climax: A series of little events tagged along for the journey to the climax. But, everything explodes when Max leaves for safety. Liesel is…she’s devastated. But, there is worse to come. He’s seen in a hoard of Jews on their way to Dachau, and this just tears the girl apart. Soon after, Ilsa gave Liesel a blank book. This saves the girl’s life, keeping her busy writing in the basement in an unexpected bombing. Sadly, all of Liesel’s loved ones die in their sleep. Death takes his time picking up Rosa, Hans, Kurt... Oh yeah, Rudy dies too, but at least he gets his long-awaited kiss from Liesel. Too bad it happens like this.
Falling Action: Well, the climax occurs late in the book, and in consequence, there’s not much to be said in this section. But, it is notable that Liesel drops her book in shock of everybody’s death (book = her life-story painted on the beloved blank pages from Ilsa). Death picks it up. The book is to be remembered. The mayor’s wife takes her in. Liesel talks with Alex Steiner. About Rudy. I’m sorry, am I being too specific?
It’s...well...just that......I love this part.
Resolution: In the epilogue, Liesel dies. But, she has lived a happy life with a husband and offspring. We also see Liesel being reunited with Max, having miraculously survived his sentence at Dachau. The book ends under a fulfilling atmosphere as Death gives back her book and takes her soul away. “I am haunted by humans.”
I started this book and it just didn't keep my attention, so gave it up, for a time. It had been so highly recommended I knew it would come back on my list. When next I picked it up I was ready for it and absolutely loved it. An engrossing, warm, and thoughtful read about a very difficult time.
An amazing story that takes place during World War II in Nazi Germany. Death narrates the story of a young girl named Liesel and her life living with her foster parents, the Hubermanns.

Comment
Add a CommentA masterpiece that will destroy you. The to-the-point narration from death himself makes this book hard to put down. 5/5
552 pages
Beauty and brutality. This story gives both in addition to some genuinely funny moments. We look back at history and judge all but that’s easy do. This is a story of beautiful people living through the worst 4 years of the 20th century. The end of this book is hard to read, if you don’t get a lump in your throat and a tear in your eye I worry for your soul. I know some will read it and think it’s pure fantasy to think that Nazi Germany had no beauty, that all who lived through it were complicit. It’s not so black and white though. I choose to believe there was a Rudy Steiner and a Liesel Meminger.
Beauty and brutality. This story gives both in addition to some genuinely funny moments. We look back at history and judge all but that’s easy do. This is a story of beautiful people living through the worst 4 years of the 20th century. The end of this book is hard to read, if you don’t get a lump in your throat and a tear in your eye I worry for your soul. I know some will read it and think it’s pure fantasy to think that Nazi Germany had no beauty, that all who lived through it were complicit. It’s not so black and white though. I choose to believe there was a Rudy Steiner and a Liesel Meminger.
I can definitely see why The Book Thief is such a crowd pleaser. It was such a brilliant idea to think “outside the box” and have Death himself narrate. Death provides wonderful humour and helps make the book a bit more interesting to read. This book accurately demonstrates how life was during World War Two and the struggles everyone had gone through. Liesel is just a little girl when she has to face the whole world on her own. As readers, we grow up with Liesel and experience her daily life alongside her. This book was beautifully written and I would rate it 4.5 out of 5 stars. Definitely a must read for those who haven’t and I highly recommend it!
@SpookyCat of The Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board
And others by him...particularly the trilogy underdogs...
So good. The book has a unique formatting. It gives you details and hides details. Definitely a must read.
The Book Thief is a highly acclaimed historical fiction; I can see why. It tells the story of Liesel Memminger, a girl living in Nazi Germany. The tone and writing style are incredibly unique because it is narrated by death, causing it to have a very refreshing perspective. Death the narrator would very often “spoil” what is going to happen, but it is done so cleverly that it does not diminish our interest at all, in fact it elevates it. Throughout the book, we get to see Liesel grow up; as her understanding of the world matures, we the readers also get a more comprehensive view on all the aspects, mainly the political state, of her time. Although this book is pretty long, its pacing is still very balanced. The plot and the characters are so real and all the emotions and atmosphere are depicted wonderfully. A friend told me about this book and I’m so happy that I took the time to read it. I would recommend it to anyone searching for a great read. 4.5/5. Cathy, grade 10, of the Yorba Linda Teen Book Bloggers
awesome
Quietly thoughtful, infinitely profound.