Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Emotional WWII drama explores loss, literacy, and love.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
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The Book Thief
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 20 parent reviews
Based on 78 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is a mixed bag; some find it emotionally impactful and a powerful portrayal of life during World War II, while others argue it falls short compared to the book, describing it as boring or disappointing. The overarching sentiment seems to hinge upon personal expectations set by the book, with many highlighting the film's strong themes of compassion, loss, and the struggle for hope amid despair.
- emotional impact
- book comparison
- mixed reviews
- powerful themes
- appeal to teens
- bittersweet ending
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
THE BOOK THIEF, like the book on which it's based, is narrated by Death (Roger Allam), who explains that he rarely cares about the stories of the living, with the exception of young Liesel Meminger (Sophie Nelisse). In 1938, Liesel is shown on a train with her frightened mother (rumored to be a Communist) and sick little brother, who dies before they reach their small town destination. At his impromptu funeral, Liesel steals The Gravedigger's Handbook as a memento. She's soon delivered to childless foster parents, gentle painter Hans (Geoffrey Rush) and abrasive laundress Rosa (Emily Watson). At home, Hans discovers the book and begins to teach Liesel how to read, and at school, Liesel befriends her neighbor, the fast-running Rudy Steiner (Nico Liersch). Liesel's life changes even more when Hans and Rosa agree to hide a young Jewish man, Max (Ben Schnetzer), in their basement. Liesel, now a voracious reader, forms a sweet secret friendship with Max -- but as the war progresses, all of them are put in danger again and again.
Is It Any Good?
The film may not steal your heart quite as powerfully as Zusak's novel, but it is faithful enough to show moviegoers why the characters are so beloved. Take Rudy, he's a "boy with hair the color of lemons" who doesn't care that his Olympic idol Jesse Owens is black -- he just wants to run fast and convince Liesel to give him a kiss. Then there's Max, who shows Liesel how to resist hate, and who paints over the pages of Mein Kampf to give Liesel a place for her words. And class actors Rush and Watson are fabulous as the bickering but loving Hubermanns, who really love their new daughter. This is a movie that will make you cry, make you laugh, and make you hold your books close to your heart.
Markus Zusak's novel is unforgettable: How many books are narrated by Death? The movie doesn't pull off the Death narration quite as seamlessly as the novel (plus, Allam's voice is stereotypically deep and knowing), but the at-times heartbreaking story will still resonate with viewers, who will grow to love young plucky Liesel. Nelisse is lovely as the curious Liesel, who despite losing her entire immediate family, is open to love -- whether it's from her parents, her new friend Max, or her best friend Rudy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of literacy and books. How does learning to read change Liesel's life? Why does she "steal" books? How can books make an impact on even a horrible situation?
What makes a movie or a book "young adult" -- the age of the protagonist, the intended audience, or something else?
How is this movie different from others about WWII? Do you believe there were Germans who weren't fond of the Nazi regime or of Hitler's anti-semitic laws?
In the movie, like the book, Death is the narrator, but he doesn't reveal things the same way. What did you think of the narrator in the movie? For those who've read the book, did you like and understand the changes between the page and screen versions?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 8, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : March 11, 2014
- Cast : Emily Watson , Geoffrey Rush , Sophie Nelisse
- Director : Brian Percival
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , Friendship , History
- Run time : 125 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some violence and intense depiction of thematic material
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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