When death has a story to tell, you listen. (Published 2005. Pages 552.)

This novel takes place during World War II Nazi Germany in a small fictional village called Molching, spanning from 1939 to 1943. The Book Thief is a novel centered around the life events of a young German girl named  Liesel Meminger, while being told to you from the viewpoint of Death himself. You are introduced to Liesel as she is enduring a train ride with her mother and ill brother, whom passes along the way. Liesel is on her way to her foster family, which include Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Liesel is heartbroken upon arrival at her new home, freshly losing her younger brother and left wondering what has come of her dear mother whom she had to leave. You are quickly swept away on a heart felt, gut-wrenching and tear jerking tale of how Liesel comes to find peace in her new family and learning to love her foster parents more than she could have ever expected. As Death tells you the story of Liesel’s experience during World War II, you learn of her passion for reading which grants her the nickname “The Book Thief” from her best friend and neighbor boy Rudy. Death reveals to you how the Hubermanns, despite the dangers, harbor a Jewish man named Max in their basement and how Liesel comes to form one of the most beautiful friendships with him that she carries with her to her last day on Earth. Death narrates not only the suffering of Liesel as she overcomes life changing obstacles, but also the obstacles of those around her whom she loves, will depicting the horrifying experiences so many Jewish people where forced to endure during this time. All leading up to a tragic, yet heart warming ending about a young girl who stole books and read to survive the events of World War II.

Wow! What a read this was! This novel is by far my favorite read of 2020, if you have not yet read this powerful book, then I can not stress enough how much you should. This is a beautifully written tale of love, friendship, loss and survival against all odds, magically told in the perspective of Death. I literally loved everything about this novel, from the characters to the narration. I could not help but become attached to every single character introduced along the way. I found myself admiring Liesel, loving Max and adoring the sweet Hubermanns. This is a novel that will truly stay with me, never soon to be forgotten. I have not cried so much in a long while, yet, this beautiful piece of art moved me to utter tears. Only being published in 2005, I have no doubt this will live on as a timeless classic, leaving readers with a roller coaster of emotion. This was a true masterpiece in literature, I was moved by the endless amount of emotion pouring out of the pages. I could go on and on about this life changing novel, but I will just ask you give it a try yourself instead. Such a powerful story.

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