The Book Thief: Film tie-in Paperback - 2014
by Markus Zusak
About this book
It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. By her brother's graveside, Liesel Meminger's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found. But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down. The Book Thief is a story about the power of words and the ability of books to feed the soul. In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.
Reader reviews for The Book Thief: Film tie-in
Review summary
Readers largely praised The Book Thief for its lyrical prose, intimate portrait of everyday Germans during WWII, and a memorable ensemble—Liesel, Hans, Rosa, Rudy, and Max—who felt deeply real. Death as narrator struck many as inventive and moving, offering a compassionate, observant vantage; others found it gimmicky, confusing at first, and too quick to telegraph key events. The pace and structure—nonlinear with a slow start—divided opinion: some felt the plot meanders, while many said the character work and final chapters land with exceptional force. The book’s meditation on the power of words and moral courage resonated strongly, and the audiobook narration drew particular praise. A minority criticized heavy metaphor and a YA feel, and a few did not finish, but overall sentiment was highly favorable.
Readers say this book is:
lyricalpoignantdevastatingcharacter-driveninventive narrationslow startspoiler-proneimmersivethought-provokingmeanderingWrite a review for this book
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First edition identification
Details
- Title The Book Thief: Film tie-in
- Author Markus Zusak
- Binding Paperback
- Edition International Ed
- Pages 560
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Black Swan Books, Limited
- Publication date 2014
- ISBN 9780552779739 / 0552779733
- Age range 12 to UP years
- Grade levels 7 - UP
- Reading level 730
- Category Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction
- Dewey Decimal Code FIC
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