Literacy In The Book Thief

“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” This quote from Franklin Douglas tells many things about how literacy gives power and how The Book Thief connects to the real world. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, is taken place in the time of WWII. The narrator is Death, who has an interesting perspective and view of the world during this time. He tells the story of Liesel Meminger who was a teenager during the early 1940s. Liesel faces many challenges and secrets while living on Himmel Street in Nazi Germany. Liesel learns to read and write, which is not usual for her. Literacy, or the ability to read or write, gives Liesel power to heal many people, one of which is Ilsa Hermann, and to influence others who are living in her country. In The Book Thief, Liesel Meminger gains power, through literacy, to heal Ilsa Hermann. First, Liesel heals Ilsa Hermann by asking questions that were sour subjects to Mrs. Hermann. “The woman’s face did not alter, yet somehow she managed to speak.” (145) This quote is showing Ilsa Hermann’s reaction to Liesel asking about her son. She eventually opens up. This is the first time that Mrs. Hermann has talked about her son in a while and Liesel is trying to help her to heal. Second, Liesel helps Ilsa Hermann by disappointment and anger. Liesel usually takes Mrs. Hermann’s laundry, but with tough times in the country, Mrs. Hermann had to stop business. Liesel responds with the following: “It’s about time

Liesel has grown others, like Ilsa Hermann and Max Vandenburg, and she has grown herself. She has done this by the power of literacy. Like the real world, literacy is a powerful thing. If used correctly, literacy can be used to bring people together. It can also be used to influence and advance other’s understanding of the world. In conclusion, Liesel needs the power of literacy to grow and influence