Alex’s Reviews > The Book Thief > Status Update

One key part was when Hans was drafted into the war. After helping a Jew in public, he is subject to suspicion. Therefore, he is confused when he is randomly accepted into the Nazi Party. However, it all makes sense when "a statement arrived to say that Hans Hubermann was to be drafted into the German Army." (417). As he was part of the party, he couldn't say no. This is important as it will affect Liesel later on.

One important part was when Liesel stole the book after she was given it. The mayor's wife gifted her the book when they fired Liesel's family. She came back and returned it in a fit of rage. When Rudy is with her, they want to steal, but " Rudy, no matter how hard she tried to resist the idea, was secondary to her plan. It was the book she wanted." (287). This shows how the book is a key metaphor in the story.

One part that was interesting was when Max made Liesel a book. After their family lets a Jew stay in their basement, Max feels like he is useless. He starts to make pages to give something to Liesel, the person who has talked to him. Then, "the result was a thirteen-page booklet..." (224). This is important since it shows how the girl has begun to feel empathetic with the Jews and hates Hitler even more.

One interesting part was when both Liesel and Rudy began to steal apples. Both of them are very poor and don't have much money. Liesel's love of books leads her to steal a few, like The Shoulder Shrug. Eventually, because they wanted decent food, it "finally drove them to thievery." (150). This is important as it both cements both of their reputations as thieves and develops their characters.

One part that was important was when Liesel gets transferred to a foster family. Although she does not fully understand what is happening, her brother ends up dying. Her mother takes her to a town called Molching, and then to a house on Himmel Street, where "Regardless, Liesel's foster parents were waiting." (26). This will be important since it sets up her connection to her old mom and the new setting of the story.