The Book Thief
By Markus Zusak (550 pages)
Setting and Context
The story takes place in Munich, Germany on 33 Himmel Street, where Liesel Meminger and her best friend Rudy Steiner live.
Context:
In the world of The Book Thief, Liesel's brother has died, and her Mother has put up for foster care. Hans and Rosa Hubermann become her new foster parents, and are teaching her their rules and Rosa's daily routine, so Leisel can help her. Later they get a visitor named Max Vandenburg who is a Jew, and the Hubermann household does everything to keep him alive.
Characters
Main Character (Protagonist) - Liesel Meminger
Liesel Meminger is a foster child to Hans and Rosa Hubermann. She had a brother named Werner who unfortunately died right before Liesel went to the Hubermann's house. Her best friend is Rudy Steiner, and they live on 33 Himmel Street.
"I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right."
-Liesel Meminger
Main Character ( Antagonist) - Adolf Hitler
Hans Hubermann
Rosa Hubermann
Minor Characters
Frau Holtzapfel
Ilsa Hermann
Hans Hubermann Junior
Main Conflict
The main conflict in The Book Thief is a Man Vs Society. Throughout the novel, everyone in the Hubermann household is trying to keep Max alive, and to stay a secret from anyone who doesn't live in their house. They were almost caught when the Gestapo came and were looking for a good basement to use as a bomb shelter. Max was hiding in the basement, so the idea of the basement being a bomb shelter wouldn't work, but of course it wasn't their decision. Max didn't have enough time too leave the basement so he hid very quickly, and somehow they got away with hiding a Jew in there basement.
Man VS Supernatural
Man Vs Man
Man Vs Man
Themes
Bravery
Liesel was brave in the story whenever she went to steal books because if she was caught stealing for example, from the bonfire, she could get in a large amount of trouble, or they could've even killed her.
Power of Words
If word weren't so powerful, then Liesel wouldn't have had such a strong urge to read and write.
Death
Throughout the story Liesel has expirienced many loses. Everyone Liesel is close to ends up dying in the bombing, except for Alex Steiner, Rudy's father.
Likes and Dislikes
The parts in the novel that I liked, was when Viktor Chemmel threw Liesel's book into the river, and Rudy jumped in to retrieve it for her. Another part that I enjoyed, was when Liesel and Rudy went to the Mayor's house to steal one of Ilsa Hermann's books, and Rudy leaves Liesel's shoes in front of the window.
Dislikes:
The part in the book that I disliked, was when everyone dies. It sounds exaggerated, but it is true. In the middle of the night, while everyone was asleep, a bomb hit Munich, and everyone on 33 Himmel Street died except Liesel because she was in the basement writing her book.
My Favorite Part
My favorite part in the book is when Rudy dies because throughout the entire story, Rudy had been asking Liesel to kiss him. Although he came very close to getting his kiss, he ended up dying before he could get it. When Rudy died, Liesel went to his house and gave him his kiss.