The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a very popular historical fiction book in this decade. This 550-page book encouraged many teenagers to learn more about the Holocaust, a genocide that occurred during World War II. Markus Zusak wrote this book based on information from his parents' memories, not on a modern conflict. His parents' experience during the war greatly influenced him. Although many of the characters in this book are fictional, the origins, cities, events, and actions are historically accurate. Although The Book Thief was not written during World War II, Zusak was still surrounded by people who had been there to witness it. Liesel Meminger, the protagonist of the story, is an adopted girl with blonde hair and a scary pair of chocolate brown eyes. She is entrusted to the Hubermanns when her father abandons the family and her mother is forced to give her up for adoption. She is very close to her adoptive father, Hans Hubermann, and has a tough but loving relationship with her adoptive mother, Rosa. He befriends Max and the mayor's wife. The mayor's wife allows Liesel to read, borrow, and "steal" books from the home library. Liesel also makes friends with other children on Himmelstrasse. Liesel eventually marries Max and moves to Australia. He has several children and grandchildren. Liesel dies in Sydney. Hans Hubermann, Liesel's adoptive father, works as a painter and enjoys rolling and smoking cigars. He served in the German Army during the First World War. During the Holocaust he does not agree with the Nazi party but is forced to join it. After being accepted into the Nazi Party, he was recruited into the German army. He has silver-gray eyes and is tall, although despite this he is described as very capable of ble... middle of paper... er, and Liesel becomes a real book thief. Save Jewish books from Nazi burning and steal from the mayor's library. Liesel is illiterate when she steals her first book, but Hans Hubermann uses her precious books to teach her to read. Liesel eventually marries Max and moves to Australia. He has several children and grandchildren. Liesel eventually dies in Sydney. This is a story of courage, companionship, affection, survival, death and pain. This is Liesel's life on Himmelstrasse, as told by Death. There are two main themes in this book that are experienced at any point in everyone's life. These themes are “Survivor's Guilt” and “Abandonment.” This book should be read by everyone. This book covers many useful topics for people in their lives. I feel like this book was interestingly written for an important piece of history.