The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak

This is another book I read this year that was startlingly, interestingly, different. The Book Thief is the story of a young girl in pre-WWII Germany who is sent to live with a new family after her mother was declared a Communist and sent away for "re-education." Soon Hitler has brought Germany to war with Europe, and Liesel struggles to find happiness with so many obstacles before her: war, a myserious new family, poverty, haunting memories, Nazi youth camp, and a Jew hiding in the basement. Her one source of happiness is books, which she resorts to stealing when times get tough. The kicker? The novel is narrated by Death.

The plot recap sounds dismal, but don't let that scare you off. It's eloquent and beautiful, and Zusak creates a world in which you care deeply about his characters. The book is advertised for young adults in the US, but is marketed to an adult audience in every other country (the author is Australian). I really believe it's an adult novel, and written in a lyrical and true style. This may be the best book I've read this year.