The Book Thief (pdf)

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.

Published:
March 14th 2006 by Knopf Books for Young Readers (first published 2005)

Original Title:
The Book Thief
ISBN:
0375831002 (ISBN13: 9780375831003)
Edition Language:
English
Characters:
Liesel Meminger, Hans Hubermann, Rudy Steiner, Rosa Hubermann, Max Vandenburg, Tommy Müller, Ilsa Hermann, Frau Holtzapfel

Setting:
Molching, 1939 (Germany)

Literary Awards:
National Jewish Book Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature (2006), Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Children's Literature (2007), Buxtehuder Bulle (2008), Sydney Taylor Book Award for Teen Readers (2007), Prijs van de Kinder- en Jeugdjury Vlaanderen (2009), Michael L. Printz Award Nominee (2007), Exclusive Books Boeke Prize (2007), The Quill Award Nominee for Young Adult/Teen (2006), Zilveren Zoen (2008), Teen Read Award Nominee for Best All-Time-Fave (2010), Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis for Preis der Jugendjury (2009), Association of Jewish Libraries for Teen Book Award (2006), Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2010), Kathleen Mitchell Award, Literaturpreis der Jury der jungen Leser for Jugendbuch (2009)


“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”-Quote in book