What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Book Thief
Markus Zusak · Book · 2013
If you loved The Book Thief, start with The Book Thief (Brian Percival, 2013) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Book Thief across media.
What hooked you in The Book Thief was the way history’s darkest moments are filtered through intimate, deeply human perspectives.
Start with the source
Adaptation
The Book Thief
Brian Percival · Film · 2013
Films on the same thread
Schindler's List
Steven Spielberg · Film · 1993
Explores: Survival, Moral Courage, Dehumanization.
Like The Book Thief, this film examines moral courage within Nazi Germany, shifting the focus from the grand scale of war to the profound impact of individual life-saving actions.
The Diary of Anne Frank
George Stevens · Film · 1959
Explores: The Holocaust, Persecution, Loss of Innocence.
If you valued the perspective of a young girl coming of age amidst the Holocaust in The Book Thief, this harrowing true story offers a similarly poignant, intimate narrative.
The Pianist
Roman Polanski · Film · 2002
Explores: survival against the odds, dehumanization, loss of identity.
Much like the power of words provided solace in The Book Thief, this film explores how art and music serve as vital resistance for a survivor trapped in Warsaw.
The Notebook
Nick Cassavetes · Film · 2004
Explores: Lost Love, Memory Loss, Second Chance Romance.
If you appreciated the way The Book Thief uses a narrative frame to explore love and memory, you will find this connection through its focus on reading and history.
Series on the same thread
Death Note
Series · 2006
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, God Complex, Justice vs. Evil.
If you were drawn to the unconventional, otherworldly narrator of The Book Thief, you will find a similar fascination with the presence of death in this supernatural thriller.
The Last of Us
Neil Druckmann · Series · 2023
Explores: Survival, Found Family, Moral Ambiguity.
The Book Thief relies on the bond between a girl and her protector, a dynamic mirrored here as a hardened survivor guides a young girl through a brutal world.
All the Light We Cannot See
Steven Knight · Series · 2023
Shares a thread with The Book Thief: World War II.
This story mirrors the way The Book Thief finds light in humanity during the Second World War, focusing on the intersection of two lives caught in a larger conflict.
Generation War
Philipp Kadelbach · Series · 2013
Explores: Loss of Innocence, The Horrors of War, Friendship Tested.
Like The Book Thief, this series explores the loss of innocence for young people in Germany, showing how the machinery of war tests friendships and personal morality alike.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
If The Book Thief prompted you to reconsider the way history is recorded, this deep dive into the legacy of slavery will resonate with your desire for truth.
Crime Junkie
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2026
Explores: justice seeking, obsession, societal impact.
If you were captivated by the mystery of how a story is told in The Book Thief, this podcast offers a similar commitment to unraveling hidden human truths.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Book Thief movie based on the same story as the book?
Yes, the 2013 movie adaptation of The Book Thief is based on the 2013 novel by Markus Zusak. Both versions follow the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living in Nazi Germany who finds solace in books during the darkest of times.
Who is the narrator in The Book Thief?
The narrator of The Book Thief is Death. As the story is set in 1939 Nazi Germany, the narrative follows Death as he observes the life of Liesel Meminger, a young girl whose experiences during this busy and difficult period are the focus of the novel.
What is the setting of The Book Thief?
The Book Thief is set in 1939 Nazi Germany. The story takes place outside of Munich, where the protagonist, Liesel Meminger, lives as a foster girl and attempts to survive while the country holds its breath during a period when Death becomes increasingly busy.
Does The Book Thief feature a specific protagonist?
Yes, the protagonist of The Book Thief is Liesel Meminger. She is a foster girl living outside of Munich who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing books, which serve to feed her soul throughout the difficult events occurring in Nazi Germany.