The Book Thief by Markus Zusak on October 15, 2013
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Family / Orphans & Foster Homes, Young Adult Fiction / Historical / Holocaust
Pages: 592
Format: Paperback
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The Book Thief was one I was finally able to read! This was selected for one of my book clubs and I was glad I was able to get to this Jem!
This was narrated by Death and told from a few different POV’s. The setting is late 30’s Nazi Germany. Liesel is the main character who the book centers around. She is 9 years old when the book begins and her brother has just died and she was abandoned by her mother. At her brother’s gravesite she stole her first book, The Grave Diggers Handbook.
She is brought into a foster family on Himmel Street in a very precarious time in German history. She doesn’t know where her mom went, just that she heard the word “communist” and that she fears anything could have happened. Her foster father, Hans, is very kind to her and reads and plays music for her. Her foster mother, Rosa is a little more difficult to get to know.
She becomes good friends with the neighbor, Rudy. He begs her for a kiss on occasion, but settles for friendship. He becomes her partner in crime when they go to the mayor’s house to steal books. The story follows Liesel’s journey on Himmel street as Death watches on. There is also a Jewish guy, Max who is hidden for most of the story and Death even watches him.
This one has ALL the feels! I cried at the end. I was very drawn into the premise of this one. I didn’t imagine that Death would have such feelings about life in Nazi Germany. And also such feelings for Liesel. I can see why this book is so popular. This is a story that sticks with you long after you read it.