The Book Thief Summer Book Report

The Book Thief, written by an Australian author, Markus Zusak, is a devastatingly powerful historical-fiction novel that bears several re-readings. Being one of the greatest, most divinely-written epilogues in my school library, The Book Thief, is a soul-shattering, thought-provoking story that undoubtedly can be recommended to the young and old alike. This poignant, prolonged, but achingly sad book, is the pinnacle of contemporary historical-fiction, poised to become a classic. Phenomenally breathtaking, and inspiring, bringing nothing but anticipatory dread, this lyrical, surreal book, though depressingly morbid at times, was my “gateway” to historical-fiction. The tribulations and trials provided in the novel, had inevitable passion, perspective

One theme of this novel is the power of literature and words. In fact, Zusak directly states the theme on the 126th page of his novel: “Once, words had rendered Liesel useless, but now, when she sat on the floor, with the mayor’s wife at her husband’s desk, she felt an innate sense of power. It happened every time she deciphered a new word or pieced together a sentence.” He goes on to explain that in a place such as Nazi Germany, how fitting it was that she was just now learning the power behind the words. The real irony lies here: in Nazi Germany, a girl in the Hitler youth learns to read as they have ceremonies for the purpose of burning books written by Jewish authors, and her primary practice in the summer of 1940 came from reading Jewish books in her mayor’s library under the supervision of his wife. Now, if the setting were different, then this theme wouldn’t have the significance that it currently has. Thus, the setting magnifies the true theme.

Exposition – The story begins by death, the narrator, explaining to the reader the times he has seen Liesel, the book thief. He first saw her when her younger brother died on a train and he had to go collect his soul. The second time was when a pilot crashed a plane and death went to collect his soul. The third time death saw Liesel was when a bomb went off in her

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, takes place in 1940s Nazi Germany in the small town of Molching. The main character, Liesel Meminger, takes on a role as the foster child of Hans and Rosa Hubermann. She also meets a young boy named Rudy Steiner, who goes on to be her best friend and lover. In the book, Liesel faces many challenges big and small. From hiding a Jew in the basement to a thieving lifestyle, Liesel has to learn to overcome all of life's problems. Through all of this, she is supported by her foster father Hans Hubermann who is caring to people he barely knows, intelligence despite his lack of education, and generosity even when he has little for himself.

In The Book Thief, a work of historical fiction, written by Markus Zusak introduces the main character Liesel Meminger, the reader starts to see how she keeps having many conflicts but always stays positive. Liesel has many conflicts, for example her brother dies early in the book and that shapes the way she is. Later on Liesel steals books and that makes her happy because the first book she stole was the grave digger's handbook and that is how she remembers her brother. Liesel steals and reads books this is how she finds happiness with all the bad things going on around her. In the end of the book most of the people she loves die and it is hard for her to find happiness again. The author uses the setting and point of view to express theme and to make the reader feel sympathy; He uses this because with the theme of finding light in the darkness, deaths perception, and the setting of Germany makes the theme clearer.

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,

Liesel most definitely could have trusted Rudy with the secret of having Max hidden in her basement. Rudy was clearly Liesel’s best friend and partner in crime when Liesel was doing her acts of thievery stealing the books from the mayor’s wife bookself. The devotion to Liesel Rudy also had was strong and I believe Liesel could have trusted Rudy.

More than the overt message about the power of words, it’s Liesel’s confrontation with horrifying cruelty and her discovery of kindness in unexpected places that tell the heartbreaking truth.” (1) I do not agree with statement about too much commentary, I believe the commentary gives a perfect amount of insight into Liesel’s backstory, as well as Death’s past in his morbid business. As well as with the too much switching from past to present time, the switching is from Liesel’s current memory to her memory before the Hubermann family, and Max’s life before and after he had to run from the Nazis. I do feel like there is a lot of point of view switching between characters and at times that can get a bit confusing. However, the characters are spectacular and the message comes across loud and clear as you progress in Liesel’s life and her adventures as a book thief. It’s a book that deals with the reality of the life that people had to face during Nazi Germany, but in an entertaining way that’s appealing to the young adult audience. Some World War II books can get extremely boring, with little high points in the plot. But young adults can almost relate to Liesel, she has different aspects that appeal to all audiences.

Death describes himself a little; he doesn't carry a scythe, or wear a black robe unless its cold, and he looks like any person. 1942 is a very busy year for him, and he needs a vacation. There are so many humans to collect and colors to see. War is not Death's best friend, as the saying goes, but more like a demanding boss. When he remembers that year he likes to think of a little beauty as well, though, so he returns to the book thief's story.

Part 1—Create a list of five discussion questions (and sample answers) about the book so we can include them in our class discussions. You will be expected to lead a discussion with at least one of these questions. (Your sample answers should be six to eight sentences in length.)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a chilling tale of a young German girl who is shown the horrors of the period of Nazi Germany. Having little money and barely any responsibilities at this age, Liesel Meminger shares her love of books, writing, and learning with her friends and her foster family. From the beginning of the book, Liesel shows strong powers for secrecy and stealing. At the beginning, she steals a book about grave digging from her brother’s funeral and learns to read it after she ends up in a foster home after she is abandoned by her mother. Her foster father teaches her all he knows, and soon she’s able to write and read almost at her age level. Stealing many books, learning and keeping many secrets she shouldn’t, Liesel truly

The Book Thief was an excellent book. The beginning started out with Death explaining all of the times where he encountered the book thief. The first time Death encountered the Book Thief (A.K.A. Liesel Meminger) was on a train with her brother and her mother. Her brother died when on the train, and at her brother's funeral she stole her first book called “ The Grave Digger's Handbook.” After her brother died, her mother sent her to a foster home and left her there. She stayed with Hans Hubermann and Rosa Hubermann in which she learns to love them. Hans is very good at the accordion and teaches Liesel the joy in rolling cigarettes. Rosa is very strict and constantly swears. She becomes friends with a boy named Rudy Steiner who loves to run.

The Magic Thief By Sarah Prineas. The person I chose in this book is named Connwaer, the reason I chose this book is because I really enjoy fantasy books. Connwaer is a 12 year old boy who has black hair, blue eyes, and raggedy torn up clothes from being raised up on the streets, If this book would ever to be made in to a movie I would choose Colin Ford to be Connwaer because he is a young actor and he also looks like Connwaer. Although Connwaer may look like nothing but a poor kid who walks on the roads, you may want to watch out because he is a master pickpocket and a superb lockpicker! But since he was raised on the streets he hasn’t had any schooling whatsoever so he doesn’t even know how to read. An example of when he used his pickpocket

It seems sometimes like the market for young adult literature is written down to the readers, almost in a condescending manner. That is why a book like The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is so refreshing in this sea of cookie cutter romances and fantasies. While classified as a young adult novel, it deals with very serious themes. The book’s cover comes printed with this label: “It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.” It is a dark allusion to what is to come. But Zusak makes this story more accessible to the audience he is writing to and does this by creating identifiable characters, by bringing humor into

1) In your judgment, what is the most important argument the author makes in the book?