The Book Thief

About this book

Narrated by Death, the novel follows Liesel, a young German girl in a foster family in Nazi Germany, who steals books, learns to read, and hides a Jewish man in her basement. Zusak's novel appears on middle-school and high-school Holocaust-study reading lists across multiple state DOE frameworks.

Why widely assigned

This Historical Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 8–11. Written in the 2000s; pairs with curriculum units on Holocaust and courage; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

• Common Core State Standards (ELA)

  • recommended·9th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 9-10 exemplar
  • recommended·9th grade · Michigansource: Michigan ELA Standards — Holocaust cross-curricular

Similar grade-level books

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  1984
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  The Great Gatsby
  F. Scott Fitzgerald · 1070L

See all books like The Book Thief→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Common questions

What grade level is The Book Thief?

The Book Thief is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 8–11, with a Lexile measure of 730L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

What is the Lexile level of The Book Thief?

The Book Thief has a Lexile measure of 730L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.

How long does it take to read The Book Thief?

It takes about 10h 5m to read The Book Thief (552 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 605 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

Is The Book Thief hard to read for 8th grade?

At 730L, The Book Thief reads below the typical 925–1185L text-complexity range for 8th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.

What curricula assign The Book Thief?

The Book Thief appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.