# Markus Zusak

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Australian writer (born 1975)

Markus Zusak Zusak in 2019 Born Markus Frank Zusak (1975-06-23) 23 June 1975 (age 51) Sydney, Australia Occupation Writer Education Engadine High School Alma mater University of New South Wales Period 1999–present day Notable awards Margaret A. Edwards Award 2014 Spouse Mika Zusak Children 3 children Website markuszusak.com

**Markus Zusak** (born 23 June 1975) is an Australian-German writer. He is best known for *[The Book Thief](/source/The_Book_Thief)* and *[The Messenger](/source/The_Messenger_(Zusak_novel))*, two novels that became international bestsellers. He won the [Margaret Edwards Award](/source/Margaret_Edwards_Award) in 2014.[1]

## Early life

Zusak was born in [Sydney, Australia](/source/Sydney). His mother Elisabeth Zusak is originally from [Germany](/source/Germany) and his father Helmut Zusak is [Austrian](/source/Austrians). They immigrated to [Australia](/source/Australia) in the late 1950s.[2][3] Zusak is the youngest of four children and has two sisters and one brother. He attended [Engadine High School](/source/Engadine_High_School) and briefly returned there to teach [English](/source/English_language) while writing. He studied English and history at the [University of New South Wales](/source/University_of_New_South_Wales), graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and a [Diploma of Education](/source/Diploma_of_Education).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Career

Zusak is the author of seven books. His first three books, *[The Underdog](/source/The_Underdog_(novel))*, *Fighting Ruben Wolfe*, and *[When Dogs Cry](/source/When_Dogs_Cry)*, released between 1999 and 2001, were all published internationally.

*[The Messenger](/source/The_Messenger_(Zusak_novel))* (*I Am the Messenger* in the United States), published in 2002, won the 2003 CBC Book of the Year Award (Older Readers), the [New South Wales Premier's Literary Award](/source/New_South_Wales_Premier's_Literary_Awards)'s [Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature](/source/New_South_Wales_Premier's_Literary_Awards#Ethel_Turner_Prize_for_Young_People's_Literature),[4] and was a runner-up for the [Michael L. Printz Award](/source/Michael_L._Printz_Award).

*[The Book Thief](/source/The_Book_Thief)* was published in 2005 and has since been translated into more than 40 languages. *The Book Thief* was [adapted](/source/Film_adaptation) into a [film of the same name](/source/The_Book_Thief_(film)) in 2013. In 2014, Zusak delivered a talk called "The Failurist" at [TEDxSydney](/source/TED_(conference)) at the [Sydney Opera House](/source/Sydney_Opera_House). It focused on his drafting process and journey to success through writing *The Book Thief*.[5]

In March 2016 Zusak talked about his then unfinished novel *[Bridge of Clay](/source/Bridge_of_Clay).* He stated that the book was 90% finished but that, "I'm a completely different person than the person who wrote *The Book Thief*. And this is also the scary thing—I'm a different person to the one who started *Bridge of Clay* eight, nine years ago ... I've got to get it done this year, or else I'll probably finally have to set it aside."[6] It was finally released in October 2018.

A TV series based on *The Messenger* premiered on [ABC](/source/ABC_TV_(Australian_TV_channel)) in 2023.[7] Zusak said his next book would be a "[memoir](/source/Memoir) type thing" and not fiction.[7] In 2024, he put this into practice through publishing *Three Wild Dogs (and the truth)*.

## Awards

In 2006, Zusak received *[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald)*'s Young Australian Novelist of the Year Award. In 2014, he won the [Margaret Edwards Award](/source/Margaret_Edwards_Award) from the [American Library Association](/source/American_Library_Association) (ALA), which annually recognises an author and "a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature".[1]

*[Bridge of Clay](/source/Bridge_of_Clay)* is a [Junior Library Guild](/source/Junior_Library_Guild) selection.[8]

In 2005, *[The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books](/source/The_Bulletin_of_the_Center_for_Children's_Books)* and *[Publishers Weekly](/source/Publishers_Weekly)* named *I Am the Messenger* (*The Messenger*) one of the best children's books of the year.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Awards for Zusak's writing Year Title Award Category Result Ref. 2001 Fighting Ruben Wolfe Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers — Honor [9] New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Ethel Turner Prize Shortlist [citation needed] 2002 When Dogs Cry Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers — Honor [9] 2003 The Messenger Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers — Winner [citation needed] New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Ethel Turner Prize Winner [citation needed] 2006 Michael L. Printz Award — Honor [10] 2007 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis Jugendjury Winner [11] 2006 The Book Thief Cybils Award Young Adult Fiction Finalist [12] Kathleen Mitchell Award — Winner [13] National Jewish Book Award Children's and Young Adult Literature Winner [14] 2007 Michael L. Printz Award — Honor [10] 2008 Ena Noël Award for Encouragement — Winner [15] 2009 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis Jugendjury Winner [16] 2014 Fighting Ruben Wolfe When Dogs Cry The Messenger The Book Thief Margaret Edwards Award — Selected

## Publications

### Standalone books

- —— (2002). *[The Messenger](/source/The_Messenger_(Zusak_novel))*(*I Am the Messenger*). Pan MacMillan. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780330363884](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780330363884).[17]

- —— (2006). *[The Book Thief](/source/The_Book_Thief)*. Picador. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780330364263](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780330364263).[18]

- —— (2018). *[Bridge of Clay](/source/Bridge_of_Clay)*. Picador. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780857525956](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780857525956).[19]

### *The Underdog* trilogy

- —— (1999). *[The Underdog](/source/The_Underdog_(novel))*. Omnibus Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781862914131](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781862914131).

- —— (2000). *[Fighting Ruben Wolfe](/source/Fighting_Ruben_Wolfe)*. Omnibus Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780439241885](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780439241885).[20]

- —— (2001). *[When Dogs Cry](/source/When_Dogs_Cry)*(*Getting the Girl*). Arthur A. Levine Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780439389495](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780439389495).[21]

### Non-fiction

- —— (2025). *Three Wild Dogs and the Truth*. Pan Macmillan. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781761561825](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781761561825).

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-edwards_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-edwards_1-1) ["Edwards Award 2014"](https://www.ala.org/yalsa/2014-margaret-edwards-award). [Young Adult Library Services Association](/source/Young_Adult_Library_Services_Association) (**YALSA**). [American Library Association](/source/American_Library_Association) (**ALA**). ["Edwards Award"](https://www.ala.org/yalsa/edwards-award). YALSA. ALA. Retrieved 2015-02-08.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["The Angel of Death Narrates a New Tale for Young Readers –"](http://forward.com/articles/1286/the-angel-of-death-narrates-a-new-tale-for-young-r/). Forward.com. 21 April 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Biography of Markus Zusak | List of Works, Study Guides & Essays"](https://www.gradesaver.com/author/markus-zusak/). GradeSaver. Retrieved 12 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** wiki

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Markus Zusak. ["The Failurist: Markus Zusak"](https://tedxsydney.com/talk/the-failurist-markus-zusak/). *TED Sydney*. Retrieved 21 February 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["The Book Thief 10 Years Later: Markus Zusak Reflects on His Iconic Novel 14 March 2016"](https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/03/the-book-thief-10-years-later-markus-zusak-reflect.html?p=2). *Paste Magazine*. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_7-1) Wearring, Myles (27 May 2023). ["Author Markus Zusak knocked back Hollywood to make The Messenger TV series in Australia"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-28/markus-zusak-knocked-back-hollywood-for-the-messenger-tv-series/102386438). *ABC News*. Retrieved 28 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Bridge of Clay"](https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/bridge-of-clay-9780375945595j). *[Junior Library Guild](/source/Junior_Library_Guild)*. Retrieved 30 July 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-autogenerated2000_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-autogenerated2000_9-1) ["Winners 2000–2006 CBCA"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100105155208/http://cbca.org.au/2009.htm). Children's Book Council of Australia. Archived from [the original](http://cbca.org.au/2009.htm) on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-printz_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-printz_10-1) ["Michael L. Printz Winners and Honor Books"](https://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/bookawards/printzaward/previouswinners/winners). YALSA. ALA. ["The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature"](https://www.ala.org/yalsa/printz). YALSA. ALA. Retrieved 2014-02-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-DJ2007_11-0)** ["Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis 2007"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110726211818/http://www.jugendliteratur.org/archiv/2007/). *jugendliteratur*. Archived from [the original](http://jugendliteratur.org/archiv/2007/) on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:8_12-0)** ["2006 Cybils Finalists"](https://www.cybils.com/cybils-books/2006-cybils-finalists). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230321201410/https://www.cybils.com/cybils-books/2006-cybils-finalists) from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Kma_13-0)** ["Kathleen Mitchell Award 2006 (literature)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070519080723/http://www.trust.com.au/Content.aspx?topicID=74). Cauz Group Pty Limited (cauzgroup.com.au). Archived from [the original](http://www.trust.com.au/Content.aspx?topicID=74) on 19 May 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Past Winners"](https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/awards/national-jewish-book-awards/past-winners). *Jewish Book Council*. Retrieved 18 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Welcome to IBBY Australia"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080722060832/http://www.alia.org.au/~ibby/). *Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.alia.org.au/~ibby/) on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-DJ2009_16-0)** ["Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis 2009"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100408074903/http://www.djlp.jugendliteratur.org/2009/). *Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis*. Archived from [the original](http://www.djlp.jugendliteratur.org/2009/) on 8 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["I AM THE MESSENGER by Markus Zusak"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780375830990). *[Publishers Weekly](/source/Publishers_Weekly)*. 17 January 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["The Book Thief by Markus Zusak"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780375831003). *[Publishers Weekly](/source/Publishers_Weekly)*. 30 January 2006. Retrieved 1 August 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780375845598). *[Publishers Weekly](/source/Publishers_Weekly)*. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["FIGHTING RUBEN WOLFE by Markus Zusak"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780439241885). *[Publishers Weekly](/source/Publishers_Weekly)*. 26 February 2001. Retrieved 1 August 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Getting the Girl by Markus Zusak"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780439389495). *[Publishers Weekly](/source/Publishers_Weekly)*. 1 April 2003. Retrieved 1 August 2024.

v t e Works by Markus Zusak The Underdog (1999) Fighting Ruben Wolfe (2000) When Dogs Cry (2001) The Messenger (2002) The Book Thief (2005) Underdogs (2011) Bridge of Clay (2018)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Markus Zusak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markus_Zusak) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markus_Zusak?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.