'The Book Thief' History Unfolds as a Result of Choices A guest post by Julia Rappaport of Facing History and Ourselves, an educational non-profit organization and key partner in the Now Is The Time initiative. --- We're excited that The Book Thief, the award-winning novel by Australian writer Markus Zusak, has been selected as the One Book One Chicago fall 2012 selection. This month, the Steppenwolf for Young Adults program will put on a stage adaptation of the book. Here are tips from Rebecca Ward, a program associate in Facing History's Chicago office , on teaching the book in the classroom. Ward recently co-facilitated an after-school workshop for educators about The Book Thief and the lessons from the novel that can spark class-wide discussion about the choices we make and the ways we can participate in society. Facing History and Ourselves: What is The Book Thief about? Ward : The book is set in Germany before and during World War II. It tells the story of Liesel Meminger, a young girl who risks everything for her love of books, and follows the everyday German people on her small street as they try to survive in the midst of poverty, the Nazi occupation, and Allied air raids. Amidst this chaos, Liesel finds refuge in reading. But when her father, who is not Jewish, decides to hide a Jewish stranger in the family's basement, Liesel comes to understand the true power of knowledge. Ward : The Book Thief does an excellent job