"The Book Thief" is set in Germany during World War II. Liesel Meminger stole her first book at the funeral of her brother. "The Grave Digger’s Handbook" was the beginning of Liesel’s fascination with books and words.
After her mother disappeared and brother died, she was sent to live with Hans and Rosa Hubermann. They lived in the town of Molching which is close to Munich, Germany. Rosa is a tough, strict mother and Hans is a kind, helpful father. He teaches Liesel to read and write in the small basement of their home. Liesel meets a neighbor boy named Rudy Steiner, and they spend time together all the time. Stealing things and playing soccer in the street with other boys from around Himmel Street are their favorite things to do.
While helping Rosa with her work of picking up laundry, Liesel grows a connection with the mayor's wife Frau Ilsa Hermann because one day she steals a book. Ilsa grows fond of her over time and lets her in her library to read. When she stops using Rosa for her laundry Liesel starts climbing in the window and stealing the books.
When Hans starts to hide a Jew named Max Vandenburg in the basement of their home, Liesel gets a new friend. Max and Liesel become close because he also likes to read and he even writes his own book. Max ends up going to the Dachau concentration camp because he doesn’t want the Nazis to find him and the Hubermann’s and get them in trouble. Bombing starts in the town of Molching, and the people on Himmel Street are sent to the deepest basement on the street, but one night the bombs come when everyone is sleeping. Liesel is however in the basement of her own home because she fell asleep writing the story of her life as a book thief. This basement, though not as deep as the other basement, is deep enough to save Liesel. The rest of the town was not as lucky as her.
This is one of my favorite books of all time. It kept my attention until the end, and I didn't want to put it down. I really enjoy books in the World War II period, so if you also enjoy World War II books too, you will enjoy "The Book Thief."
