In The Book Thief, Death narrates the story of Liesel, a young girl living in Nazi Germany. While living with her foster parents, Liesel becomes embroiled in a world of secrecy as the family shelters Max, a Jew hiding from the Nazi regime. Living in a war-torn world, Liesel learns to read, periodically stealing books when she gets the chance and sharing her love of words with Max. This novel demonstrates the power of words to provide an escape from even the most horrific of circumstances, and explores both the kindness and the cruelty of humans as they face the realities of war.
The Dark is Rising is a children's fantasy novel about Will Stanton, a boy who discovers he has magical abilities on his eleventh birthday. As an Old One, it is Will's responsibility to help locate four Things of Power that will help the Light, a force for good, defeat the Dark forces. Will's first task is to complete the Circle of Signs by collecting six medallions. The Dark is Rising is the second book in the series of the same name.