Essay Summary of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

5. Quotes: One night after a day of thievery, Rudy attempts to steal a kiss from Liesel. She tells him that he disgusts her, trying to hold back her true feelings. While saying goodbye after the awkward walk home, Rudy says to Liesel, “Good night, book thief” (Zusak 202). This is the first time anyone has ever called her that. She likes the nickname so much, she uses it as the title for her life’s story. She may not realize it, but the night she officially gets her title is the true beginning of her career as “the book thief.” This launches a major turning point in the book, in which she starts to feel more comfortable about stealing. It gives her a sense of emancipation from the prison that is her life. That feeling of liberation is amplified

At the library, she was offered a book by the mayor’s wife multiple times but Liesel declined. After being removed from the job because the mayor couldn’t offered job, Liesel must leave. Though she declined the book many times, she returns to the house to steal food but instead retrieves the book. She steals it for her close friend Rudy. The book itself represents the connection between the two especially Rudy valiantly saves the book after it was almost thrown into a river.

Death is a very well-known figure that is feared by many in all countries. He is suspected of being cruel, disturbing and all synonyms of horrifying. Death is inevitable and that is the most fearing aspect of his persona. In Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, Death is made to seem or resemble humans. Effectively using the narration role, Death introduces a unique description and definition of colors in which he uses as a tool to effectively engage the readers to the events occurring throughout the book. He also demonstrates him personal and different experiences as well, mostly about soul gathering and the implications of WWII that have affected him. On the contrary to Death’s dead, appalling and scary nature that many interpret him to be

Liesel is given a black book from Ilsa Hermann where she will write about everything that happened in her life this far. When she starts writing she learns that words are good and bad for people. She wants to make sure she made it right by writing a story of love and friendship.

Over time, they find things that draw them together and they become close friends. This is amazing because at the time Germans were completely against Jews and the only thing most of them wanted for them was for them was to be sent to concentration camps. Sharing the fact that they both “lost” their families, they realize that both have misfortunes, but they also realize that they can never give up. Eventually, they overcome their fears and nightmares. Liesel also teaches Max that he can express how he feels about everything through words. Liesel and Max both had some kind of a passion for reading and writing which created another strong bond. In times of hardship, they were both the quiet man, and the outgoing girl that were able to support each

Throughout The Book Thief, Max and Liesel’s friendship is developed amidst war and suffering. Given the circumstances of the time and Max’s background, they still manage to develop a special bond between the two of them. This is made evident several times in the novel including when Max gives Liesel the book, The Standover Man for her birthday. This story that Max writes himself defines the significance of their friendship, as he says in the story; ‘Now we are friends, this girl and me’. He illustrates and expresses his love and friendship with Liesel by comparing their dreams with each other as they

Liesel is kind-hearted because in The Book Thief she said, “ I don’t want to lose someone else”. She said this to Max after they became close friends. Given that, she is kind-hearted one can tell that she would do anything to protect her family from death. After WWII max and Liesel reunite and they hug and cry until they fell to the floor. Where Liesel use to live in 33 Himmel Street before there was a raid that destroyed the whole street, they hide Max. Her best friend is Rudy Steiner, he is a neighbor at first but then the friendship grows after each mischievous thing they do together. With Rudy, she grows and steals books for fun. Rudy might think it is fun, but to Liesel, it means for her. Like I said, she does this in memory of her brother. They have a race and it is a draw after falling. Rudy then said to Liesel, “If it’s a draw, do I still get my kiss?” Liesel then says, “ Not in a million years” and Rudy at the end he says “One day, Liesel, you’ll be dying to kiss me”. Therefore, at the end of the book and middle, she desires to kiss him but doesn’t until the end where he is dead. Later on, her family and she hide a Jew, Max Vandenburg, from the Nazis. Max and Liesel have grown close together. Liesel is competitive, compassionate,

Themes are inserted within literature by the author in an attempt to provoke readers to think about the topic provided. In the novel, The Book Thief, written by Markus Zusak, many topics are presents, such as, courage, suffering, and human behavior. The most prevalent, however, is the courage possessed by certain individuals. This theme, bravery, is evident throughout the entire course of the novel in Liesel Meminger, the Hubermanns, and Max Vandenburg.

There is always some kind of conflict that is happening to humankind, as is depicted in The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. Liesel and Ilsa are both haunted by the death of their loved ones, but throughout the novel, both Liesel and Ilsa work to get over their losses and become empowered. The mentor/pupil archetype and symbolism cooperate to reveal how Ilsa and Liesel help one another confront their pasts and move on to a more positive future in spite of the tremendous losses they have experienced. Their library sessions and shared love of words empower each of them; they both conquer fears and overcome griefs during one of the darkest time in history, WWII in Nazi Germany.

When faced with these moments of isolation, Max, Liesel, and Hans try to escape it, sometimes leading them into dangerous situations, to no longer feel alone. In Liesel’s case, one of these attempts was to start stealing books. Liesel stole books like “The Shoulder Shrug” and “The Whistler” and enjoyed reading them. She read these books so she could “escape” her isolation and enter different worlds. While stealing these books, she also bonded with many people (mainly with Rudy), helping her to slowly strengthen her relationships and move away from her loneliness. Max, another character

Throughout The Book Thief, Max and Liesel’s friendship has blossomed despite the fact that a war is being waged and suffering is abundant. Although the circumstances of the time and Max’s background are dangerous, a special bond between the two is developed. This is made evident several times throughout the novel particularly when Max gives Liesel the book, The Standover Man for her birthday. The story that Max writes defines the importance of their friendship, as he says in the story; “Now we are friends, this girl and me” (Zusak 235). Both Liesel and Max illustrate

In Markus Zusak’s book The Book Thief, Liesel comes to Himmel Street to live with Hans and Rosa Hubermann. There she meets Rudy Steiner who becomes her best friend. As the book continues, they become more than friends.

Liesel Meminger, the main character in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, is a very complex and deep character. Throughout the almost six year span of her life starting from age nine covered by this novel, Liesel not only grows intellectually and physically, but as a whole person. Physically when Liesel arrived on Himmel Street as a foster child, “everything about her was undernourished” (Zusak, 31). Death described even her smile as hungry. Liesel was depicted with “Her hair was a close enough brand of German blond, but she had dangerous eyes.

In the novel The Book Thief written by Marcus Zusak, Max found himself in a situation where the propaganda that Hitler has set affected his life in many ways. With the help of Liesel’s words and reading and the care that the Hubermanns gave, Max grew stronger and he had the courage to stand up and protect himself from the force that Hitler had set against the him and the Jews. By having the his power of will, Max was fighting Hitler in his own circumstances even if it 's just in his imagination.

“Here is a small fact: You are going to die”(Zusak 3). The Book Thief, a historical fiction book by Markus Zusak, is narrated by Death. The novel takes place during the 1930’s and 40’s in Nazi Germany and follows 9 year old Liesel Meminger, who death refers to as “The Book Thief.” After her father, mother, and then brother are killed, Liesel becomes an orphan and is taken in by Hans and Rosa Hubermann in Molching. Throughout the book, she meets many people including the Mayor’s wife, Isla Hermann, and Max Vandenburg, a Jew who is hiding from the Nazi’s in the Hubermann’s basement. Although Liesel’s life is filled with death and loss, she ends up surviving an air raid on her street and after the war, she is reunited with Max who survived