It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding
its breath. Death has never been busier, and
will become busier still. By her brother's
graveside, Liesel Meminger's life is changed
when she picks up a single object, partially
hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's
Handbook, left there by accident, and it is her
first act of book thievery. So begins a love
affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the
help of her foster father, learns to read. Soon
she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings,
the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are
books to be found. But these are dangerous
times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jew
in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened
up, and closed down. The Book Thief is a story
about the power of words and the ability of
books to feed the soul.