
“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”― Markus Zusak, The Book Thief
This book has a unique narrator–Death. It is 1939 in Nazi Germany and Death is extremely busy and will become more so. Liesel Meminger is a foster child living outside of Munich. While traveling, Liesel steals her first book. Her foster father teaches her to read and books and storytelling become her life line. As Liesel gets access to more books, she shares them with others in her community during bombing raids and with the Jewish man hiding in the basement. Death is not finished with Liesel or Munich and Liesel will need all the hope and power books and words can give her to overcome tragedy and heartbreak.
This is a powerful story that appeals to adults as well as kids. It is intense, heartfelt, and extremely sad, but also shows the power of hope and resilience.
Content Advisory: Death, death of a parent, death of a sibling