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Author: ZUSAK MARKUS
The Story
Set amidst the frightening and unsettling political background of 1939 Germany The Book Thief beloved international bestselling book, is the heart breaking account of Liesel Meminger. The narrator of her story is Death who encounters Liesel on three separate occasions. First, when he comes to claim her younger brother Werner on a train taking them to meet their foster parents. Second, when he comes to claim souls after a bomb is dropped on her town, and finally, when he visits Liesel as an older woman. Death finds the book Liesel was writing during the bomb raid and uses it to tell us her story.
In 1939 Liesel arrives in the town of Molching Germany and is taken to the home of her foster parents, an elderly German couple named Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Hans Huberman finds Liesel's first stolen book and teaches her to read and write. Liesel's passion for books leads her to steal one book from the mayor’s wife and another one from a book burning.
An emotional turning point in the book occurs when the Hubermanns take in Max, a Jew, and the son of the man who saved Han’s life during the Great War. Hiding Max in their basement is a dangerous undertaking for the Hubermanns.
Already in danger of hiding a Jew, Hans Hubermann risks punishment when he offers bread to a Jew. Now under suspicion, the Nazi police want to search the Hubermann home forcing Max to flee and Hans to join the German army. With both men gone Liesel brings comfort to her neighbours by reading to them. She is in the basement of her home writing the story The Book Thief when the bombs begin to drop.
The Book Thief has won lots of prestigious awards since 2006 across the world and has been translated into many languages.
Now a block buster movie and was nominated for an Oscar
Best suited for young adults 14 years and up; mature readers who can handle advanced literary writing and difficult subject matter.