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The Book Thief Analysis

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The historical fiction novel, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, examines the hardships endured by Liesel Meminger, a young girl rushed to live with foster parents to survive during World War Two. The power of love and friendship have the ability to sustain people in the darkest of times. Liesel's Foster father Hans acts as her teacher and role model by proving the value of reading and true compassion. Max, a Jewish boy seeking safety from Nazi soldiers in their basement becomes Liesel's best friend through them relating to past experiences and their love for reading.
World War Two was a time of discrimination and injustice. Hans shows sympathy towards Jewish people while most Germans do not have the courage, his actions are brave and genuine. The suffering Jewish people walk through the center of town, Hans and Liesel are astonished as “[a] jew stood before [hans], expecting another handful of derision, but he watches with everyone else as Han Hubermann held his hand out and presented a piece of bread, like magic”(394). Shortly after Hans punishment entails, the brutal whip strikes across his back four times. Hans knew in the moment what he was doing and the punishment proceeding but he did it for the bigger message to get across to Liesel. Hans conveys life lessons to Liesel throughout the novel as her role model, this lesson proves that standing up for what you believe in over rules all. Along with being a role model to Liesel Hans teaches her the importance of reading

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