a mountain range of rubble
in which our narrator introduces: himself – the colours – and the book thief.
An edition of The Book Thief
(1998)
The Book Thief
First American Edition
by Markus Zusak
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It's just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel 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 before he is marched to Dachau.This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.
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Subjects
nyt:young-adult-paperback-monthly=2022-09-04, New York Times bestseller, New York Times reviewed, Books and reading, Fiction, Jews, History, World War, 1939-1945, Rescue, Storytelling, Death, Novela australiana, Livres et lecture, Romans, nouvelles, Juifs, Histoire, Guerre mondiale, 1939-1945, Sauvetage, Libros y lectura, Novela, Judios, Historia, Guerra Mundial II, 1939-1945, Book thefts, Jews rescue (1939-1945 : World War) fast (OCoLC)fst01710189, World War (1939-1945) fast (OCoLC)fst01180924, Death, fiction, Germany, history, fiction, Jews, history, fiction, World war, 1939-1945, fiction, Children's fiction, Storytelling, fiction, Books and reading, fiction, Juvenile fiction, Art de conter, Mort, World war ii, Gestapo, Judaism, Nazi, Nazi germany, Historical fiction, Narración de cuentos, Muerte, Literature, Judíos, Nyt:paperback_books=2007-09-09, Ficción, Jews rescue, German history, Books, Reading, Spanish language materials, Ficción juvenil, Guerra mundial ii, Fictional works, Large type books, Memory, Mothers, Family problems, Young adult fiction, Death (personification), GermanyTimes
1933-1945, World War, 1939-1945, 1939-1945Showing 11 featured editions. View all 107 editions?
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The Book Thief
2013, Alfred A. Knopf
Paperback
in English
- Movie Tie-In Edition (19)
0385754728 9780385754729
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La voleuse de livres
2013-10, Pocket Jeunesse
Mass Market Paperback
in French
2266171046 9782266171045
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The Book Thief
2013, Alfred A. Knopf
Paperback
in English
- Movie Tie-In Edition (10)
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The Book Thief
2006-03, Alfred A. Knopf
ebook
in English
- First American Edition
0307433846 9780307433848
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The Book Thief
2006, Thorndike Press
Hardcover
in English
- U.S. Hardcover Large print ed. (9)
0786290218 9780786290215
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Book Details
First Sentence
"That last time."
Table of Contents
Title Page
Dedication
PROLOGUE
DEATH AND CHOCOLATE
BESIDE THE RAILWAY LINE
PART FOUR - the standover man
THE ACCORDIONIST - (The Secret Life of Hans Hubermann)
A GOOD GIRL
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE JEWISH FIST FIGHTER
THE WRATH OF ROSA
LIESEL’S LECTURE
THE SLEEPER
THE SWAPPING OF NIGHTMARES
PAGES FROM THE BASEMENT
PART FIVE - the whistler
THE FLOATING BOOK (Part I)
THE GAMBLERS - (A SEVEN-SIDED DIE)
RUDY’S YOUTH
THE LOSERS
SKETCHES
THE WHISTLER AND THE SHOES
THREE ACTS OF STUPIDITY - BY RUDY STEINER
THE FLOATING BOOK (Part II)
PART SIX - the dream carrier
DEATH’S DIARY: 1942
THE SNOWMAN
THIRTEEN PRESENTS
FRESH AIR, AN OLD NIGHTMARE, AND WHAT TO DO WITH A JEWISH CORPSE
DEATH’S DIARY: COLOGNE
THE VISITOR
THE SCHMUNZELER
DEATH’S DIARY: THE PARISIANS
PART SEVEN - the complete duden dictionary and thesaurus
CHAMPAGNE AND ACCORDIONS
THE TRILOGY
THE SOUND OF SIRENS
THE SKY STEALER
FRAU HOLTZAPFEL’S OFFER
THE LONG WALK TO DACHAU
PEACE
THE IDIOT AND THE COAT MEN
PART EIGHT - the wordshaker
THE ECLIPSE
THE FLAG
PART ONE - the grave digger’s handbook
ARRIVAL ON HIMMEL STREET
GROWING UP A SAUMENSCH
THE WOMAN WITH THE IRON FIST
THE KISS - (A Childhood Decision Maker)
THE JESSE OWENS INCIDENT
THE OTHER SIDE OF SANDPAPER
THE SMELL OF FRIENDSHIP
THE HEAVY WEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE SCHOOL-YARD
PART TWO - the shoulder shrug
A GIRL MADE OF DARKNESS
THE JOY OF CIGARETTES
THE TOWN WALKER
DEAD LETTERS
HITLER’S BIRTHDAY, 1940
100 PERCENT PURE GERMAN SWEAT
THE GATES OF THIEVERY
BOOK OF FIRE
PART THREE - meinkampf
THE WAY HOME
THE MAYOR’S LIBRARY
ENTER THE STRUGGLER
THE ATTRIBUTES OF SUMMER
THE ARYAN SHOPKEEPER
THE STRUGGLER, CONTINUED
TRICKSTERS
THE STRUGGLER, CONCLUDED
DOMINOES AND DARKNESS
THE THOUGHT OF RUDY NAKED
PUNISHMENT
THE PROMISE KEEPER’S WIFE
THE COLLECTOR
THE BREAD EATERS
THE HIDDEN SKETCHBOOK
THE ANARCHIST’S SUIT COLLECTION
PART NINE - the last human stranger
THE NEXT TEMPTATION
THE CARDPLAYER
THE SNOWS OF STALINGRAD
THE AGELESS BROTHER
THE ACCIDENT
THE BITTER TASTE OF QUESTIONS
ONE TOOLBOX, ONE BLEEDER, ONE BEAR
HOMECOMING
PART TEN - the book thief
THE END OF THE WORLD (Part I)
THE NINETY-EIGHTH DAY
THE WAR MAKER
WAY OF THE WORDS
CONFESSIONS
ILSA HERMANN’S LITTLE BLACK BOOK
THE RIB-CAGE PLANES
THE END OF THE WORLD (Part II)
Acknowledgements
EPILOGUE - the last color
DEATH AND LIESEL
WOOD IN THE AFTERNOON
MAX
THE HANDOVER MAN
Copyright Page
Edition Notes
The Physical Object
Edition Identifiers
Work Identifiers
Work Description
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
Excerpts
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Community Reviews (3)
Pace 3
Slow paced
66%
Medium paced
33%
Enjoyability 3
Engaging
33%
Exciting
33%
Neutral
33%
Clarity 3
Dense
33%
Effective explanations
33%
Well organized
33%
Difficulty 3
Advanced
100%
Breadth 3
Comprehensive
100%
Genres 3
Philosophical
18%
Classic
18%
Drama
18%
Fiction
18%
Romance
9%
Action
9%
Crime
9%
Mood 3
Emotional
23%
Dark
23%
Fearful
15%
Sad
15%
Strange
7%
Mysterious
7%
Suspenseful
7%
Impressions 3
Overhyped
33%
Life changing
33%
Highly recommend
33%
Length 2
Long
100%
Credibility 2
Accurate
100%
Features 2
Chapters
66%
Illustrations
33%
Content Warnings 1
Racism
50%
Adult themes
50%
Style 1
Olde
100%
Purpose 2
Learn about
33%
Hope
16%
Broaden perspective
16%
Inspiration
16%
Entertainment
16%
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History
- Created June 23, 2010
- 16 revisions
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| March 28, 2025 | Edited by ImportBot | Redacting ocaids |
| July 22, 2021 | Edited by Lisa | added details from linked copy |
| July 21, 2021 | Edited by lisaBot | moving edition(s) to primary work |
| July 17, 2021 | Edited by eclecticeidolon | I'm trying to add information about a pdf edition, also published in 2007. hopefully this works? |
| June 23, 2010 | Created by ImportBot | Imported from marc_overdrive MARC record |