BOOK REVIEW: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

One might think that a book narrated by Death and set in Nazi Germany during the Second World War would be bleak from cover to cover. But one would be wrong. "The Book Thief" heaps hope and humor upon the reader, saving tragedy for the final course - besides a few sprinkles throughout. It's not that the story lacks a tension born of many close calls and morally compromised situations, but it's a very human story - with the appropriate mix of blemishes and beauty.

The protagonist is a girl named Liesel who is sent to live ...