The Gravedigger's Handbook

“Like most misery, it started with apparent happiness.”

Narrated by Death himself, this story is about a young girl that intrigued him. As World War Two is just starting, 9 year-old Liesel Meminger goes to live in Molching, Germany with her new foster family, the Hubermann's. The only item she takes with her is “The Gravedigger’s Handbook”, a book she had previously stolen from her brother’s graveside. While Liesel is settling into her new home Hans Hubermann teaches her to read, which makes her strive for more and more words. Soon enough Liesel is stealing books from the book burnings the Nazi’s put on, the Mayor's home, basically anywhere and everywhere she can find books with words.

As Liesel starts to grow closer to her foster father, Hans Hubermann, her foster mom, Rosa Hubermann, is another story. Rosa acts tough on the outside but has a big heart on the inside. After Liesel starts to help Rosa with her job, washing and ironing wealthy people's clothes, she meets the Mayor’s wife. The Mayor’s wife lets Liesel come and read books in their library, but soon money gets tight for everyone. Rosa loses most of her customers, including the Mayor. Since Liesel can’t freely go to the library anymore, she decides to steal books from there instead.
As a favor being returned from a friend of Hans’s, they hide Max Vandenburg, knowing that their lives are being jeopardized. Max and Liesel became great friends over the time he stayed with the Hubermann’s, considering all of the things they have in common. They both love words, both found safety at the Hubermann’s and don’t have fond pasts. Max soon leaves the Hubermann’s thinking they have done enough for him. The next time they see him, he’s being marched off to a concentration