During 1939, Nazi Germany, Liesel Meminger is taken just outside of Munich to live with a foster family. Although Liesel cannot yet read, she stole a book that her foster father reads to her before she goes to sleep so she doesn’t think about her brother’s death. Throughout the next several years, Liesel adds to her collection of stolen books. She learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bomb raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.