'The Book Thief' (PG-13)

If it were not for the Jewish fugitive tucked in the family’s basement and the spectacle of entire personal libraries erupting into bonfires, cheered on by crowds under scarlet banners, much of the soul-sapping experience of life in Nazi Germany could easily be lost to a more inspiring coming-of-age story.

But let’s face it—Markus Zusak’s novel “The Book Thief” covers some difficult territory. In adapting it to film, director Brian Percival, along with writer Michael Petroni, had to temper the desire for broad strokes while keeping a wary account of the moments cherished by fans of the book.

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