Australian author Markus Zusak was born in Sydney on June 23, 1975. He began writing at the age of 16, and seven years later his first book, The Underdog, was published. Zusak is best known for his award-winning young adult novels The Book Thief and I Am the Messenger, both of which have been successful internationally and are Michael L. Printz Honor books. The Book Thief is scheduled to be released as a major motion picture on November 15, 2013.