"The Book Thief" is a sneaky book. I was puzzled by the tone at the beginning, and had some second thoughts as to whether it was really right for my current mood. Little by little, it swept me along, and before I knew it, I was completely captivated by it. "The Book Thief" is a beautifully written story, of war and family, love and friendship, words and actions. The characters are unforgettable -- not just main character Liesel, but also her foster parents Hans and Rosa, who come alive in surprising ways, as well as all the minor and not-so-minor characters in Liesel's small town. This is an unusual story of WWII, told through the experiences of a German town and its common people. The horror of war is ever present, and "The Book Thief" has quite an unusual narrator. The plot is powerful, but it's the author's use of words and language that truly make "The Book Thief" such a unique reading experience.