Narrated by Death, The Book Thief follows the story of 9 year old Liesel Meminger finding her way through Nazi-Germany mid second world war. Liesel's story begins when she starts her new life with her new foster parents, Hans and Rosa, on Himmel Street – a street filled with events waiting to happen. We follow the real everyday struggles of living amidst Nazi-Germany and the pressures and frights that come with that – especially when Liesel's family are housing a Jew. Liesel's way of coping with all the worries and inferiority she feels is – of course- stealing books. Her first thieving being right at the start of the book, following her brother's death and burial, begins the symbolism of Liesel's desperation to gain control over some part of her life, and continues throughout the duration of the book.
We all know the stories of the second world war but very few do we hear the depth of German life – which is one aspect of what makes this book so interesting and gripping. Another aspect is the fact that we see the world – and the war- from the point of view of Death which is something many of us, I can guarantee, had ever thought about to the detail Markus Zusak manages to convey in this masterpiece of a novel.
The Book Thief is one of my favourite books ever and if I could give it higher than 5 stars I would!
• Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop.
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