Liesel Meminger In The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

Book Thief Character Analysis

“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”

Throughout the novel, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, the author shows us many lessons Liesel Meminger learns. Books help Liesel to grow and mature. Liesel Meminger is a foster child, who is traveling to Munich to meet her foster parents. During the novel, Liesel creates a special bond with her foster parents, especially Hans Hubermann, and becomes good friends with the boy next door, Rudy Steiner. Liesel is the protagonist in the story. The major conflict through the course of the book is when Liesel, Hans, and Rosa hide Max, a Jew from the Nazis. Liesel’s journey into adulthood can be traced through the books she reads, such as The Grave Digger’s Handbook, Mein Kampf, and The Whistler.

The Grave Digger’s Handbook is the only thing Liesel has left of her brother and her mother. At Liesel’s brother’s burial, Liesel notices something that had fallen onto the ground. She picks it up and discovers that it is The Grave Digger’s Handbook. Liesel learns many things from reading this book. One major thing Liesel learns from reading this book is how to read. Liesel never knew how to read until her foster father, Hans Hubermann taught her the alphabet in the middle of the night. Liesel also learns to trust and love again. In the Book Thief it states,”He looked over at Liesel and winked. She would have no trouble calling him Papa.” (Zusak 35) During these midnight reading sessions, Liesel creates an everlasting bond with Hans and learns to love and trust him. “Possibly the only good to come out of these nightmares was that it brought Hans Hubermann, her new Papa, into the room, to soothe her, to love her.” (Zusak 36) Hans is one of the only people Liesel learns to trust, because he is always there to comfort her and love her, when there is no one else