When the story begins 10 year old Liesel, her younger brother, and her mother are on their way to Munich where she and her brother are going to live in a foster home. On the way, her brother dies (probably from tuberculosis). Her mother leaves her with her new foster family Rosa and Hans Huberman.
The time is right before the start of WWII. The book is narrated by Death. The story is one of love, compassion, friendship, death, acceptance, and war.
I put this book in the list of my top 5 reads ever.