The Book Thief Book List - Chicago Public Library

For Teens

How does The Book Thief speak to teens today?

As part of One Book, One Chicago and our citywide participation in Now Is The Time, Chicago Public Library teen patrons recommend the following books to heighten the importance of taking a stand against bullying, putting an end to intolerance, being yourself and, quite simply, making a positive difference.

Quicklinks: Recommended Books | Other Suggested Titles

Recommended Books

13 Reasons Why
By Jay Asher
Recommended by Carrie
Inside a mysterious box Clay Jensen finds on his porch are several cassette tapes recorded by classmate Hannah Baker who recently committed suicide. On them, Hannah explains the 13 reasons why she decided to end her life. This is one of the best books you will ever read and it might even change your life and show you how you can be a better person to others. There's an important message to all teens if you read close enough.
Audiobook | eAudio | eBook

Between Shades of Gray
By Ruta Sepetys
Recommended by Matthew
Strong-minded, fifteen-year-old Lina is enjoying the summer before art school starts, when one night members of the Soviet secret police break into Lina’s house and deport her as well as her mother and brother to Siberia. Lina’s father is sent to prison and ordered a death sentence. Lina’s entire life crumbles before her. She is forced to use what it takes to survive and fight for the lives of her family as well as her own. She jeopardizes her life to send messages to her father in prison. This fantastic, blood-rushing adventure is filled with love, strength, and hope.
Audiobook | eAudio | eBook

Divergent
By Veronica Roth
Recommended by Becca
Divergent is set in a future Chicago where the city is divided into factions, which people are sorted into based on a personality aptitude test. The factions are Dauntless (the brave), Erudite (the intelligent), Amity (the peaceful), Abnegation (the selfless), and Candor (the honest). Beatrice Prior was born into Abnegation, but when she turns 16, she gets to pick the faction she wants to be in - whether it’s her parents’ or not. Something goes wrong during Beatrice's aptitude and she must learn who her friends are, who her enemies are, and who her love is.
eAudio | eBook

Lord of the Flies
By William Golding
Recommended by Matthew
During a war, a plane filled with thirty schoolboys from Britain is shot down and crashes on a tropical island. The boys begin immediately talking about survival plans and leadership roles. As the novel progresses, however, many of the boys lose their sanity and resort to savagery. When all ties to civilization are threatened, will the few strong-minded boys left have what it takes to stay alive and keep the group safe?
Audiobook | eAudio

Maus
By Art Spiegelman
Recommended by Viktor, 17
Through the awesome writing and creative images, this personal story really gives an interesting, and in-depth look at the Holocaust without being distracted by too much history or sadness, it's still a graphic novel without being too graphic. As the only "comic" to ever win a Pulitzer, it truly deserves it. This wonderful historical narrative uses animals instead of people (German Nazi's are represented by cats, Jews by mice, and Poles by pigs) to tell the story of the author’s father, Vladek, a Polish Jew who survived the horrors of the Holocaust. The story shows you the wonderful pre-war life Vladek lived and then switches back and forth from past to present, from bad to worse. A cliff-hanging ending leads you to the next book.

Maus II
By Art Spiegelman
Recommended by Viktor, 17
This book must be read right after the first, for fear of forgetting even one detail of Anja and Vladek's struggle, as the second book starts off where the last one ended. This heart wrenching tale continues and keeps you on edge as there is the never-ending threat of death. The story alternates between the terror in Poland and the relationship between the author and his father, Vladek. This book also won the Pulitzer – a truly deserved award.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
By Stephen Chbosky
Recommended by Victoria
Charlie is a wallflower, a shy introvert entering his freshman year of high school, the most intimidating of them all. Fortunately, he is befriended by an outgoing senior sister-brother duo named Sam and Patrick. Based in the 1990's, this book pays homage to mix tapes, friendship, and life affirmation written in the form of letters to the reader.
Audiobook

Stargirl
By Jerry Spinelli
Recommended by Sam
Stargirl Caraway sticks out like a ketchup stain on a white shirt, and she loves it; she always sticks up for herself, her friends, and even her pet rat, Cinnamon. Leo is…well, the opposite: he’s always trying to blend in; the closest he comes to standing out is having a talk show broadcast throughout the school. But when these two very different people fall in love, will sparks fly, or will they both end up crushed?
Audiobook | eAudiobook | eBook