Product Description

The story of a young German girl who steals books, of her family and the Jewish boxer hidden in their basement as they struggle to survive in Nazi Germany when the bombs begin to fall.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3 in Books
• Published on: 2008-01-01
• Binding: Paperback
• 560 pages

Synopsis
1939 - Nazi Germany - The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier. Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall. Some important information - this novel is narrated by death. It's a small story, about: a girl; an accordionist; some fanatical Germans; a Jewish fist fighter; and quite a lot of thievery. Another thing you should know - death will visit the book thief three times.

From the Back Cover
`Brilliant and hugely ambitious' New York Times

`Extraordinary, resonant, beautiful and angry'
Sunday Telegraph

HERE IS A SMALL FACT

YOU ARE GOING TO DIE

1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier.

Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall.

SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION
THIS NOVEL IS NARRATED BY DEATH

It's a small story, about:

a girl

an accordionist

some fanatical Germans

a Jewish fist fighter

and quite a lot of thievery.

ANOTHER THING YOU SHOULD KNOW
DEATH WILL VISIT THE BOOK THIEF THREE TIMES

About the Author
Markus Zusak, a prize-winning author, lives in Sydney with his wife and daughter. The Doubleday hardback of The Book Thief , published at the beginning of January 07, stayed in the top ten of the Sunday Times bestsellers for nine weeks. It was published to critical acclaim in Australia and in America where it reached No. 1 on the The New York Times bestsellers list. Film rights have been optioned by the makers of The Devil Wears Prada.

Customer Reviews

Thief of time......
Considering all the 5 star reviews this book has I'm really left wondering what all those people found in this book. I've just finished it and wish I hadn't bothered. It's a slow paced, unchallenging and thoroughly predictable meander through the lives of ordinary people in Germany in WW2 which fails to really tell you anything interesting about war or death.

What a missed opportunity - if Death was to write a philosophy book about the lives and deaths of human beings in wartime I'd expect him to have something much more significant to say than this nonsense. Perhaps if the author had tried to engage adults rather than children it would have worked a great deal better than it did.

If you've recently bought a copy and not started reading it then give it to a 12 year old and save your own time for reading something else instead.

A True Modern Classic
I never go on recommendations or recommend a book, but this is a book which in the future, should be on the cirriculum of every secondary/high school in England.
It is the story of Liesel an 11 year old child in Germany in 1939.
It gives the reader a view of Germany at a time events were changing the world, the story of a child forced to leave her mother, the death of her brother, the stealing of a GraveDiggers manual, and given to a German couple, the mother who was more like a tyrant than a foster mother but a father so wonderful every paragraph he features in is a joy to read.
When Liesel was humiliated in school because she couldn't read, the loving, gentle way her "father" taught her to read almost brought tears to my eyes.
It IS sad and touching, but never maudlin. The events Liesel witnesses, the things she goes through, all narrated by Death, are so vivid. Markus Zusak has drawn characters so believable, so honest, as we would say a warts and all story,, that the reader can't not be moved.
Using Death as the narrator was a brilliant concept, which works wonderfully. His very dry, black sense of adult humour brings a smile to the readers face, but then you wonder if you really SHOULD have been smiling.
A book about Nazi Germany wasn't one I was thrilled to find, I didn't know what to expect, but this is just a brilliant book. My 14 year old son has also read it, and like me, couldn't put it down.
This book should be a vital part of any book group, libraries, and on the cirriculum at every school. This is truly a modern classic.
Markus Zusak's writing is fluid, his characterizations brilliant. The best book I have ever read, and believe me, I have read many

I love this book!
I love this book! I like the fact it is not the same as every other bestseller! I particulary like interesting and original layout of the book including the notes. I disagree that they are a tedious addition slowing reading down, they are thinking points and are important to what you take away from the story. But then I see reading a book as an enjoyable adventure - not a race! I love the style of writing and clever use of words and will definately re-read this book, something I rarely enjoy a book enough to do , and I think I will pick up something new with each reading. An excellent book well worth the money and deserving of 5 stars plus.