The Book Thief in Pick-a-Shelf

Dec 19, 2008 Luann rated it it was amazing

Shelves: gr-author, adult, holocaust, ms-rec, young-adult, 2009, historical-fiction, war, printz-honor, e-book

This is one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read - and I almost didn't read it at all. The first time I checked it out from the library, I felt like I had too many books to read and it was very long. It didn't immediately catch my attention, so I returned it. This time I didn't stop after the first few pages, which gave Zusak's amazing words and characters a chance to pull me in. They wouldn't let go until I had finished the book. I literally read it in one sitting. At the end, I ...more

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Feb 20, 2008 Joanie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bookclub, young-adult, 2025

Re read for my TL/DR book and movie club. I think I liked it even more on the second read but knowing the ending made it sadder. Now to watch the movie.

Read this for book club. Death is the narrator and tells the story of Liesel, a 9 year old German girl who is sent to live with a foster family during WWII. Liesel reminded me of so many other young, female protagonists (in a good way) such as Francie from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird. She's smart, loyal, resource ...more

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May 24, 2008 Mita rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2008, historical-fiction

There's already so many glowing reviews about this book so I don't see the need of me to write another one. All I will say is that most of those reviews are true to their words. This book is good.

What endears me the most is the relationships between Liesel and the people around her. It is quite bittersweet to see this broken girl start rebuilding her life as the surrounding, Nazi Germany, is falling apart. It is comforting to see her starting to trust and to see how her foster parents embraced h ...more

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Jun 24, 2009 Suzanne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction

This book is amazing. Difficult to read at time, since it is during the Hitler years & what happens to these people during this era. The book thief is actually a little girl(Liesel)who picks up a book at her brother's gravesite. She doesn't know why she did this since she can not read.

She & her brother are being sent to foster parents but only she got to go. Her foster father is the one who teaches her to read. She's 9 years old at the time when she is sent there so all this happened in her gro ...more

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Aug 02, 2008 Julianne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: absolute-favorites, best-of-2008

Loved it! Surprised this was YA.

Death gave a unique perspective to WWII Germany--a great choice for a narrator. As someone who spent a semester in high school studying Nazi Germany's propaganda (and took 4+ visits to the Holocaust Museum), I think this would be a good choice for a high school lit course (say, if you were able to read this in conjunction with WWII in a history class).

I've read reviews that didn't like Death's foreshadowing and "spoilers" through the story. Personally, I think it ...more

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Jun 02, 2009 Illyria rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: children_and_young_adult, 2009

I wasn't quite happy with the narrator, Death, at the beginning. The nonchalant way he (it?) tosses spoilery, not to mention heartbreaking facts, was off-putting to say the least. And it wasn't the easiest thing to do, to immerse myself in a story narrated by a rambling Death.

Once the story starts moving along, however, I was captivated by the images, and Zusak's way to manipulate words, giving them a physical sense and the ability to take action rather than simply be the medium of messages. Th ...more

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Jan 22, 2009 Nicole rated it liked it

Shelves: historical, 2009

I had been looking forward to this book as so many people rave about it and I don't know that I'd go so far as to say I was disappointed, but it didn't live up to expectations. The story of a girl growing up in Nazi Germany narrated by Death was very well written, compassionate and a unique take on a story that has been widely told.

With that said, I wasn't really drawn in. When I was reading I found my mind wandering, and I was never excited to pick the book back up whenever I put it down. ...more

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Apr 01, 2010 Blarneygod rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Wow. This book made me cry. It took me awhile to get into this book, but about halfway through, it dragged me in and didn't let go. It still has not completely let go. The use of a third party narrator gave a unique voice to this book. I related to the main character because I too feel the irresistible pull of a good story. ...more

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Aug 27, 2008 Cam rated it really liked it

What a thought provoking book. A great idea to have Death tell the story. You really care for the characters and fear for them in the situations they are facing. Best of all you get a new and interesting look at Death.

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