Per my review at Baltimore Reads: 
 Have you ever gotten to the final word of a book and wished there were another five hundred pages, give or take? You are simply not ready to part with the characters and the world they are living in. It s almost impossible to pick up another book and start reading right away because you need a few days to reflect and recuperate. 
 For me, this book was The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. I read it last summer and really haven't stopped thinking about it since. I have read plenty of books since that time, many of them wonderful reads, but I often found myself yearning for a book that would have the same emotionally resounding impact on me that The Book Thief had. 
 I recently decided to reread this acclaimed novel (The New York Times called it "life changing") partly because I was missing the characters terribly, and partly because I wanted to see if it was really as good as I remembered. I read another one of Zusak's novels, I Am The Messenger, a few months after I read The Book Thief and I was severely disappointed. You can catch my review of that book here on Baltimore Reads, but in summary, I though it lacked pretty much everything I remembered The Book Thief thriving on - strong, relatable, lovable characters; a beautifully drawn setting; simple yet jarring writing, and a meticulously crafted plot. I was nervous that maybe my love for The Book Thief was unwarranted, but from the moment I started rereading I knew this wasn't the case. In fact, it was just as good the second time around. 
 The heart of The Book Thief lies in the characters, who are all living day-to-day through World War II in Germany. The main focus is on Liesel Meminger, a young girl sent to live with foster parents on the impoverished Himmel Street in Molching because her mother cannot afford to keep her anymore. She suffers a tragic loss en route to her new home, and also finds a book along the way that will change her life. Her new guardians, Hans and Rosa Hubermann, eventually become her Mama and Papa in every sense of the word. She befriends her neighbor Rudy Steiner, a young, athletic jokester always looking for trouble (as well as a kiss from Liesel). Thanks to the loyalty and moral conscience of Hans Hubermann, Liesel is also able to connect with Max Vandenburg, a Jewish man the Hubermanns help as a favor to an old wartime friend of Hans. Through the love of the Hubermanns, the friendship of Rudy and Max, and the power of the words in the books she collects over the years, Liesel is able to make it through the hard times despite the raw deal life has handed her. 
 Zusak's choice to make Death the narrator of the story of Liesel Meminger's life is what makes it such an affecting story. Rather than settle into the typical depiction of Death as a heartless, scythe-carrying monster, Zusak presents him as a hardworking, passionate creature who is wearied by centuries of warring, callous humans. Death latches on to the story of Liesel's life because within it, he finds love, loyalty, and hope - qualities that are lacking in humanity as a whole. His narration is especially appropriate at the end of the story. Without giving away anything specific, Death is a strong presence in The Book Thief's final chapters, and his narration is sure to produce rivers of tears (at least it did for me). 
 The Book Thief is one of countless novels set in the World War II era, but there is something about it that sets it apart from others. For once, rather than reading about those directly persecuted by the Nazis or those fighting on the front lines, we are given a glimpse into the lives of the citizens of wartime Germany. This is a book that follows a bunch of characters that say "Heil Hitler" when entering shops, join the Nazi party, and participate in Hitler Youth. They also throw bread to Jews marching through the city en route to concentration camps, harbor wanted men in their basements, and stand up to the Nazis when the lives of those they love are in jeopardy. This was a time when defying the Nazis meant punishment and death, so those opposed to the Hitler regime had little room to revolt. Many were struggling to simply make ends meet in a difficult economic time. And yet, not all good was lost amongst the swastikas and Hitler salutes. The Hans Hubermanns and Liesel Memingers of the world made sure Hitler didn't have his entire homeland hypnotized to do his will. 
 After a second reading, I still can't bear the thought of life without Liesel and Rudy stealing apples and sharing precious candies, or Papa playing his accordion, or Max writing beautiful stories on painted pages of Mein Kampf. I am now on a quest to find some new characters to fill the hole that The Book Thief has created in my book-loving heart - any suggestions? 
 Just a few quotes to convince you to read this book: 
 "...the words were on their way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them in her hands like the clouds, and she would wring them out like rain." 
 "People observe the colors of a day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it's quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations with each passing moment. A single hour can consist of thousands of different colors. Waxy yellows, cloud-spot blues. Murky darkness. In my line of work, I make it a point to notice them." 
 And finally, Zusak on writing The Book Thief: "I like that every page in every book can have a gem on it. It's probably what I love most about writing-that words can be used in a way that's like a child playing in a sandpit, rearranging things, swapping them around. They're the best moments in a day of writing -- when an image appears that you didn't know would be there when you started work in the morning."