The Book Thief

Bookclub-in-a-Box Discusses The Book Thief, the Novel by Markus Zusak It is 1939 and times are getting tough for everyone in Germany. Ten-year-old Liesel and her brother are on their way to be adopted into a foster home, but sadly, the brother dies en route. After his burial, Liesel steals her first book, The Grave Diggers Handbook. The remarkable thing is that Liesel cannot read. We follow Liesel through the war years, as she learns to read, laugh, play, interact with family, friends, and neighbors, and protect a Jew, named Max. Death is the extraordinary narrator of the novel. He spots Liesel and is fascinated with her. He hopes that the goodness she embodies will counteract the world's tendency toward evil, especially in Nazi Germany. Bookclub-in-a-Box has created a comprehensive guide to The Book Thief. Every Bookclub-in-a-Box discussion guide includes complete coverage of the themes and symbols, writing style, and interesting background information on the novel and the author.