Words on Himmel Street

Markus Zusak's 2005 novel is narrated by Death, who has noticed a girl named Liesel Meminger and finds himself compelled to tell her story. Liesel is fostered by the Hubermanns on Himmel Street in the town of Molching near Munich, where she discovers a love of books while the world outside burns. When her foster family hides a Jewish man named Max in their basement, the stakes of every word and every kindness become enormous. The novel was originally published as a young adult title in Australia and the US before being embraced by adult readers worldwide. It has sold over 16 million copies.