It's wartime in Germany. Young Liesel is adopted by a middle-aged couple. "Papa" welcomes her, but "Mama" is the stern type who likes to insult everybody. Liesel gets bullied in school when her clssmates discover she doesn't know how to write her own name. She fights back and earns the admiration of Rudy, her neighbor.
Gradually, Liesel adjusts to her new life. Papa advises her to read and write down new words. She's happier now that Rudy is her best friend. Liesel also gains confidence as she participates in school activities. The students sing songs about how great their nation is. But the song lyrics teach the children to hate non-Germans and Jews.
Liesel doesn't really understand the prejudice behind it. One night, however, everyone is made to attend a book-burning activity. Piles of books are torched to ashes. Liesel realizes that there is something wrong with what her country wants her to do. Patriotism and moral issues are now in conflict. Liesel feels disturbed enough to rescue one book and keep it.
She and her parents hide in a Jew named Max in the basement of their home. Max encourages Liesel to write her thoughts and express her love of the written word. But time is running out. Germany is being bombed by the Allies.Will the children survive?
Young actress Sophie Nelisse holds her own beside veterans Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson. The characters speak English with German accents, and throw in some occasional German words. This is distracting, ja? Still it's a memorable and excellent film about consequences of what countries ask of its citizens.
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