The Book Thief

Book review by Davis Cook, Common Sense Media
The Book Thief Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Powerful, moving tale of book-loving girl in Nazi Germany.

Markus Zusak Historical Fiction 2006
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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 33 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 237 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

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What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Markus Zusak's The Book Thief is a powerful portrayal of life in Nazi Germany before and during World War II, especially as it was experienced by German kids. Main character Leisel is taken in by foster parents in a small town after her younger brother dies. Death serves as both a character and the narrator, and figures in the plot. Characters suffer cruel fates but also are great examples of the power of personal sacrifice, heroism, friendship, and courage. This is a tough story told about a horrendous time, so there's plenty of grief and sadness, as well as violence and cruelty. But ultimately the book is a portrait of the triumph of spirit and humanity, with all of humanity's complexities and contradictions deeply explored. In addition to the violence of the war, which causes the deaths of many major beloved characters, there are also beatings, whippings, fights, and a suicide. Adults and children smoke and drink champagne.

Community Reviews

Derby B.
Derby B. Adult
January 15, 2023
age 12+

Great book, A few draw backs

I thought that this book was great. I read it and my kids read it. The only thing that bothers me is the swearing and romance. There is a whole chapter called, “The thought of Rudy naked” let’s just say that chapter is a little inappropriate. There is also frequent cussing so if your kid haven't been exposed to that, i wouldn’t recommend this book. Overall, this is one of my favorite books and i definitely recommend it.
1 person found this helpful.
Icestar2008
Icestar2008 Adult
December 7, 2022
age 2+

Will I read it again to see if my first impression was wrong? Probably. Did I like it? Ummm, not really….

First off: I am very hard on books. Second off: I had heard some very good reviews from my friends about this book, and was expecting a well told story that had a brilliant plot line and lovable characters. :) *coughs* yeeeeeeaaaah, well, cut to the mother who slaps Liesel around ALL THE TIME, the dad who smokes and slaps his daughter, the kid next door who won’t stop hassling Liesel about kissing him, the weird mayor’s wife, and the constant, CONSTANT use of curse words, and I found myself utterly, bitterly, disappointedly disliking the book. Also: Where was the plot? Oh yeah, that’s right, buried deep, deep, DEEP underneath all of the weird trying-too-hard-to-sound-good metaphors and weird experiences, cursing, and depressing ending. I tried so so hard to like this book. I really did. But… after the the 11th (12th?) time of reading the Lord’s name paired with d**n, I found myself feeling icky. Now, this is coming from someone who can still like something even if that movie/book/person uses curse words. But it has to be worth it to read about all of those curse words, and still say, “wow, that was awesome!” The Book Thief was sadly not that, and while I will probably still reread the book to see if my first impression was off, I can heartily say that it’s not on my favorites shelf. Not at all. Also, it was supposed to be about the holocaust, and I was expecting a deep, emotional relationship between Max and Liesel to develop. Like all of the other parts of this disappointing book, nope! However, I did find the fact that it was narrated by Death to be unique and intriguing. That was all that I liked about this book, however. Also: Why did the author feel the need to foreshadow everything? I knew what was going to happen 200 pages before it did!

This title has:

Too much swearing
See all 33 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Death himself narrates the story of Liesel, a German girl left with foster parents just before the outbreak of World War II. Along the way to her new home with her younger brother, he dies; after the funeral, Liesel steals The Gravedigger's Handbook, though she cannot yet read. It's only the first of what will become a series of book thefts. As she settles in with her harsh but caring foster mother, Rosa, and kind foster father, Hans, Liesel gets to know her under-resourced neighborhood and learns to read. Her obsession with books grows as the war closes in, rationing is put in place, air raids begin, and Hans hides a Jewish man in the basement. Through it all, Death travels the Earth, taking in more and more souls every day alongside his own internal trials and hardships.

Is It Any Good?

This is a devastatingly powerful book that bears several rereadings, and should become a staple of literature discussion groups for sophisticated teen and adult readers. The Book Thief has won many awards, including the ALA Best Books for Young Adults, Michael L. Printz Honor Book, and the School Library Journal and Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year. It will educate readers about living under Nazi rule and inspire them to think about human nature and why some heroic people are able to put their lives on the line to do what they know is right. Set against the brutality of the Nazis, the book's violence is critical to the story's emotional impact.

The participation of Death as a character and narrator is presented matter-of-factly from the start, and Death continues to figure in the plot. Death changes emotionally over the course of the novel, haunted by the humans who have died. And there's a powerful payoff in the Shakespearean ending, when author Markus Zusak wallops you again and again with the fates of these people, good and bad, whom you've come to care about. These are deeply mined characters acting in response to deeply dramatic circumstances.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what makes The Book Thief a young adult title, even though it's also very popular with adult readers. What separates a young adult novel from being either a children's book or an adult novel?

  • Liesel steals books that the Nazis have banned or tried to burn. Why were the Nazis concerned about book content? Is it ever appropriate to ban a book?

  • Death is a character in the novel. Why do you think the author made that choice to tell a story about life suring wartime?

Book Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love history and World War II stories

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