Told from the point of view of Death, Liesel’s life of stealing books is chronicled. It starts with the death of her younger brother and her separation from her mother. Death then focuses on the time in her life when her foster parents hid a Jew in their home. Liesel develops a close relationship with Max and tries to survive in Nazi Germany.


I loved the pictures and stories included in the book. It would be perfect to discuss in a class: it is rich in history, symbolism, and meaning. I also liked the omniscient Death narrator and the uniqueness of the story. Both boys and girls would like it.