The Book Thief
About this product
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE’S 100 BEST YA BOOKS OF ALL TIME • A NEW YORK TIMES READER TOP 100 PICK FOR BEST BOOKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY • A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE CENTURY
The extraordinary, beloved novel about the ability of books to feed the soul even in the darkest of times. When Death has a story to tell, you listen.
It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.
Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.
In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.
“The kind of book that can be life-changing.” — The New York Times
“Deserves a place on the same shelf with The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.” — USA Today DON’T MISS BRIDGE OF CLAY, MARKUS ZUSAK’S FIRST NOVEL SINCE THE BOOK THIEF. Read more
Editor's Take
The Book Thief is widely praised for its poetic writing, emotional impact, and memorable characters. Amazon reviewers say it is easy to read, captivating, suspenseful, and beautifully written, with many calling it heart-wrenching and haunting. Goodreads readers are overwhelmingly positive as well, with hundreds of thousands of reviews and a strong reputation for being a moving, literary, and unforgettable story.
Review sites and book blogs consistently highlight the novel’s unusual narration by Death, its powerful WWII setting, and its ability to blend sadness with beauty. Book Marks and Kirkus describe it as brilliant, important, and deeply affecting. Some reviewers note drawbacks such as slow pacing in the middle and a timeline that can feel confusing at first, but these critiques are usually outweighed by strong praise for the prose and emotional depth.
- Amazon reviewers praise the writing, pacing, and emotional resonance.
- Goodreads readers overwhelmingly rate it highly and describe it as a masterpiece.
- Book review sites emphasize its originality, sadness, and literary style.
- Common criticism centers on slower middle sections and occasional confusion from the structure.
No verified YouTube review URLs were found in the gathered results, so no video IDs are included.
Price History
Specifications
| Illustrated | No |
Product Details
| Publisher | Knopf Books for Young Readers |
| Publication date | September 11, 2007 |
| Edition | First Edition |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 608 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0375842209 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0375842207 |
| Item Weight | 2.31 pounds |
| Reading age | 11+ years, from customers |
| Dimensions | 5.25 x 1.31 x 7.94 inches |
| Grade level | 7 - 9 |
| Best Sellers Rank | #268 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1 in Teen & Young Adult Holocaust Historical Fiction #1 in Children's Holocaust Historical Fiction Books #5 in Teen & Young Adult Family Fiction |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (76,955) |
