Markus Zusak The Book Thief Novel

So far so good

It's a beautiful edition, and so far no misprints or missing pages.

Bree Beal

April 14, 2026

Now My Favorite Book!

I loved reading this book so much! It's a heartbreaking and beautiful story and the writing is lovely and poetic. The Book Thief is a gift that I'll cherish forever and give to family and friends. I learned so much from this book and as I listened to the audio version and read along, the excellent narration was simply perfect. I'm looking forward to reading more from Markus Zusak.

Quality

Great quality! I purchased this book to take to a book signing. My daughter is homeschooled and fell in love with this book. When I met the author, the first thing he mentioned was about having this collector's edition. Overall 100% satisfied with the quality. I personally LOVE the hard cover.

Excited but sad

Came just in time the only thing I have an issue with is that the pages came a bit damaged.

Book Condition

I order my book and it came at the estimated arrival. The book was new and clean. No ripped pages or stains. Overall, good.

Not a book for me

The writing style made it so hard for me to enjoy. Not a book for me sadly. I was bummed that I didn’t like this book because I heard such good things about it.

Great book if you like historical fiction

This is a wonderful book. I read it years ago and finally got my own copy and read it again. Such a unique way to tell a story

0:08

Great book but binding is falling apart

This book is awesome. It IS a long read, but it never feels too tough or bleh to read. It was a summer reading book, and in the first 75-100 pages, I didn’t love it, but now i’m on page 300 ish (there’s a bit over 500 pages) and it’s hard to put down. I read it on a floatie in the pool, and maybe the way i was holding the book open so much or maybe just the way its made, groups of pages started to fall out. One fell directly in the pool, so after a lot of blow drying, it was okay, and i super glued the pages back in. It’s happened twice, both sections are glued back in, and it was parts i had already read. Overall, it’s a really great book, but it’s falling apart.

Wow

When I got the product, I noticed a sticky residue on the back of the book. 😐

Quality Focused Review

I haven’t read the book yet so this review is about the quality, everything feels nice except there are smudges/scratches on the front cover. I actually didn’t notice it at first, but when I ran my hand over the cover I felt the difference so I changed the lighting and then it appeared.

0:11

Cora Chrisman

May 15, 2023

good

i ordered a used book and it came in pretty good condition. very well-written, interesting topic and reads a little bit slow but otherwise i like it.

Some of pages print not clear .

Some of papge not clear print. Not happy about that .

Great book to read, but defective printing

I bought this book awhile back, only started reading it lately, what a great book!

The only disappointment is copy I received has printing defects in the last 10% of the book.

Is this supposed to be this way?

I don't know if this is a mistake when printing or maybe it's supposed to be this way for some...odd reason. It looks like it's been cut into it on purpose because the words line up with the cut pages. So weird.

0:31

MP

August 1, 2022

Fantastic young adult novel

I bought this to add to my Little Library on recommendation from fellow stewards. This is a GREAT read giving a view of the WWII experience from children’s perspective. Very clever storytelling.

Ahmed

June 6, 2022

Great book but came in a bit banged up

The book is amazing, Its just that it came in a bit banged up in one of the edges but its not something worth returning.

i love the book and the hardcover copy of it especially, its amazing.

Interior of book damaged

The book itself is intact. This was to be a gift, but I was disappointed to find the inside of the front of the hardback torn. I would return it, but the date this book is to be gifted is within two days.

RECOMMEND THIS BOOK SM

OH MY I ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!! I CAN’T STOP READING ITS SO ADDICTIVE! You can take my word because I’m am absolutely not a reader and this book is just AHH! It has pictures and it made me any to read it more:). It came into perfect condition. I recommend this very much.

Ripped pages

Amazing book but unfortunately my book was delivered with ripped pages.

Natalie R.

October 3, 2020

Why is it dirty

Fast delivery!!! Received the book today but it was exceptional dirty. Idk why or what it is u can’t exactly was a book

Excellent packaging and Book!

Just started to read and enjoying it so far.

Book arrived in new and no damage condition and within 5 days of order submission. All good and especially for price- great value!

Taking Action!

May 14, 2019

13 yo says amazing book, but by far saddest book she ever read

Says not for real young- too sad

Lacie Boone

May 9, 2019

Amazing

As much as I love to ramble about books, I'll try keep this short.

The Book Thief is a book you HAVE to read, whether you "enjoy" reading or not. Markus Zusak's word flow across the pages beautifully and you get hooked on every line written. Zusak has an amazing way of narrating that aspiring writers such as myself can only hope to achieve.

The Book Thief is a wonderful and tragic tale of life that you cannot put down. You'll tell yourself "just one more page" or "another chapter and then I'm done", but that will be a complete lie! Putting this book down is almost impossible. I haven't been able to sleep since I got it- send help. So while I would recommend this book to my coworkers, my neighbors, my estranged family, and any random passersby in the park... if you have a busy schedule in front of you then I would NOT recommend this book, and that's only because you won't want to put it down to get anything else done!

Anthony(Tony) Riggio

January 14, 2019

Nazi Germany Munich, Jewish fugitives, Jesse Owens

January 13, 2019

A Review by Anthony T. Riggio of the book The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This book was recommended to me by Chris Manion, author of God's Patient Pursuit of my Soul, who advised that I would really like this story about Nazi Germany in the 1930's through the end of World War II.

Markus Zusak in his writing created an interesting way to present the dialog of the narrator. At the outset I thought it was the main protagonist Liesel Meminger narrating then it seemed to morph into another person, not clearly identified at first. It made for an uncomfortable and challenging beginning only to learn after several appearances to be the spirit of Death. This however did not create a feeling of horror or was it distracting once you got the hang of this unnamed narrator. It did not take away from the overall story and the flow was rhythmic and consistent throughout the book, The overall style was very interesting and provided the reader with a glimpse of what was to follow in the succeeding chapter.

Many reviews described the book as a something a child would enjoy or relish. I am not sure if this is accurate as the story was very mature in its concept and gave one an inside track on the happenings of Germany during the rise and fall of the Third Reich. The human protagonist is a young girl about ten years old and how she is being abandoned by her natural mother to a family living in a suburb of Munich, Germany. She is traveling with her mother and younger brother who is quite sick. When the train stops, some distance from the final destination in Munich, the boy dies and they have to bury him in a small cemetery where the grave diggers misplace a book; The Grave Digger's Handbook and Liesel, purloins it for no apparent reason other than a simple souvenir of remembrance of her deceased brother. The mother deposits Liesel with the Hans and Rosa Hubermann family, a peasant family who lived in the poorer section of town. Rosa is a seemingly strict foster mother and her husband Hans is unemployed and on disability. Hans becomes Liesel's mentor and teaches Liesel to read via the book she stole from the cemetery. During a book burning in Munich, where Jews were being persecuted, forbidden books were cast into public bonfires and Liesel stole her second book and added to her foster father's reading curriculum. Her friend Rudy is a Tom Sawyeresque young boy who develops a love for Liesel and several fun experiences are had by both.

The Hubermanns take in an escaped Jew into their home and hide him in their basement, a very dangerous thing in Nazi Germany. Max the Jewish fugitive becomes a second mentor to Liesel and she develops a similar relationship as she has with Hans.

During one of the book burning events, Liesel steals her third book which add to her curriculum being used by Hans and now Max. She is spotted by the Mayor's wife and consequently a covert relationship is developed by the wife of the mayor and Liesel, which results in another mentor for Liesel.

The book has all the drama and sadness one would expect in a novel contemporaneous with Nazi Germany but it is a book worth reading. It has humor, love, sadness, drama, tragedy, suspense, unexpected and predicted outcomes.

I have to say I loved this book and reading it became obsessive with me and I believe it demonstrated the author's great talent. I unhesitatingly gave this book five stars and highly recommend its reading.

Good book

Very good condition and is held together nicely and is really nice

Chris Aléxander ßaez

July 31, 2017

Well within the estimated time of delivery And in perfect condition. Great book with a lovely meaningful story

Well within the estimated time of delivery

And in perfect condition. Great book with a lovely meaningful story, a must read!!

WB- Lifestyle of a Blessed Bookworm

February 23, 2017

This book can only be described one way, a classic

This book can only be described one way, a classic. It's words were like a literary hug... Each one surrounded me, embraced, and slowly seeped into my blood stream. Their impact pulled me in with turmoil and surrounded me with tragedy. It wasn't an easy book to read, but it's one I will never forget.

Liesel may just be my favorite heroine of all time. Her gentleness and immaturity grew into raw bravery and her ugly journey was full of hope. Her story starts with her brother dying and her mother giving her away. She ends up with adoptive parents and a world full of questions. The aggravating boy next door becomes her best friend/first love and a jew moves into her basement. One thing ties all of these things together... Words. The simple, yet complex act of reading brings her family and friends closer. Her papa teaches her love through ink on pages and in the end she returns the favor. Stealing books becomes her thing and what a thing it is...

My heart was filled to the brim while reading this book. It's a different type of historical with a new take on the enemy side. I found myself confused, angry, and sad, but most importantly... overwhelmed by how educated I felt once I finished. The narrator was a unique twist and helped pack the hard punch the story needed. I don't want to say I loved it because to love a story so full of tragedy is a tad morbid, but I did love the overall execution and grit that lined the pages. I loved the love between the characters and I loved the bittersweet ending.

Printing Error

While the novel is excellent, the copy of the book I received has a significant printing error. Page 284 is almost completely blacked out with ink and is illegible. Unfortunately, the sale is no longer eligible for return. I will be seeing the author speak in two days and plan to have him sign the book. I'm disappointed that this copy made it through quality control.

John McLaughlin

January 21, 2016

Great Cause of Book Thieves Globally.

I am, of course, premature in writing this review, since I am only about 100 pages into my first reading of the paperback text. But already there is no question in my mind that the book deserves all the accolades it has already received since its first publication some years ago. Brrrr.

The writing here is superb, the pace is spell-binding, and the cliff-hanging suspense at the ends of chapters is, well, suspenseful -- sorry -- and I know I'm far behind the rest of you. I *think* we're going to abandon our own free-standing discussion forum, and I'll send a note to that effect to my co-conspirator in that baby beginning. "Oh Death was never enemy of ours/ We laughed with him, we leagued with him, old chum... .Knowing that better men would come, and greater wars,/

When each proud fighter brags he wars on Death for Life. / Not men, for flags." (Wilfred Owen).