The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

This devastating, while enlightening novel has a tremendous plot that is skillfully written and played out. In January of 1939, Liesel Meminger’s brother dies and she moves in with her foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann on Himmel Street. Hans is the first to create a close bond with Liesel when he teaches her how to roll a cigarette and plays the accordion for her when she wakes up from her nightmares about her late brother. Liesel lacks an education and does not know how to read, however Hans teaches her how to read and write, improving her skills. At her brother’s funeral, Liesel steals a book about grave digging, this is the first book she reads and steals. While playing soccer, Liesel meets Rudy Steiner, a boy her age who would soon

“It’s about time you faced the fact that your son is dead . . . He’s dead and it’s pathetic that you sit here shivering in your own house to suffer for it” (Zusak 262). During the Christmas season, Max falls extremely sick and does not wake up for days. During the time he is unconscious, Liesel gives her thirteen, random presents. During a Jew parade, Han gives a Jew bread, he is caught and whipped. As a result of this, Max leave the Hubermann’s household because it is too risky to stay after Hans committed the offense. Max’s last words were: “You’ve done enough” (Zusak 398). Later on, the Gestapo went to the Steiner’s home to collect Rudy, so he could go to their elite school for German boys, due to his athletic ability. Rudy’s father refuses, which follows with consequences. Hans and Rudy’s father are drafted into the army as a result of their past choices. Hans was drafted into the Air Raid Special Unit also known as LSE. “As Hans soon discovered, there was also an alternative definition of the acronym. . . . —Dead Body Collectors (Zusak 432). While on the way to a camp, Hans switches seats with a young man, later on the drive, the car’s tire blows