Happy G. Lucky
Ms. Tafoya
PAP English II
March XX, 2015
Book Thief Discussion Log
Part 1
1. Character Analysis
Character
Changes
Circumstances
Relationships
Part 1 - Rudy Steiner
“Insane or not, Rudy
was always destined to
be Liesel’s best friend.
A snowball in the face
is surely the perfect
beginning to a lasting
friendship” (Zusak 48)
Rudy’s life changed
completely the day he
met Liesel. Little did he
know how much his life
would change because
he knew her.
“‘I was being Jesse
Owens.’ he answered
as though it was the
most natural thing on
earth to be doing”
(Zusak 58)
In the Jesse Owens
incident, Rudy didn’t
know that he wasn’t
supposed to be running
around pretending to
be anything other that
Aryan. He didn’t
understand why it was
bad to be black or
Jewish or anything else.
His father tells him
otherwise.
“He was there for her
at the beginning, and
he would be there later
on...” (Zusak 51)
Rudy’s relationship
with Liesel grew
quickly. He liked her
and cared for her a lot.
2. Discussion Questions (3):
1. Liesel shows a lot of grievance for her brother, why does she not show so much for her mother?
2. Why doesn’t Liesel get more upset about Rosa and how cruel and demanding she is?
3. Discuss the innocence and naivety of childhoods that Rudy shows in “The Jesse Owens Incident.”
3. Literary Log
Section of Text (pg)
Literary Device
Effect of Device
“I am a bluster -- I am not
violent. I am not malicious. I am
a result” (Zusak 6)
diction
The diction made me look at
death in a different way. I had
never thought of death as just a
result. This helps develop death
as a character.
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Happy G. Lucky
Ms. Tafoya
PAP English II
March XX, 2015
“The Star of David was painted
on their doors. Those houses
were almost like lepers. At the
very least, they were infected
sores on the injured German
terrain” (Zusak 51)
Simile
This illustrates how much the
Jews were hated. They were
seen as a disease that no one
wanted to be around.
Part 2
1. Character Analysis
Character
Changes
Circumstances
Relationships
Part 2 - Liesel
“Liesel slowly gathered
confidence... She could
read every word, but
she remained stranded
at a much slower pace
than that of her
classmates” (Zusak 87)
As Liesel improved in
her learning to read, I
felt close to and proud
of her.
“She was beaten in the
dark and she had
remained there, on a
cold, dark kitchen floor.
Even Papa’s music was
the color of darkness”
(Zusak 100)
Liesel realizes that
she’s never going to
hear from her mother
again. Liesel is
obviously upset but this
is a moment where
Liesel grows up a little
bit.
“She could not deny
that the answer to her
question had been
more that satisfactory”
(Zusak 90)
Liesel appreciates that
her Hans used his
cigarettes to pay for
the books that she got.
She grows closer and
more loving of him.
2. Discussion Questions (3)
1. What does the “darkness” represent on page 100? What does it mean for Liesel?
2. What is the significance of Hans’ relationship with his son in this part?
3. Did Liesel steal the book for the thrill of it, or for the book itself?
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Happy G. Lucky
Ms. Tafoya
PAP English II
March XX, 2015
3. Literary Log
Section of Text (pg)
Literary Device
Effect of Device
“You didn’t see people, only
uniforms and signs” (Zusak 112)
Diction
This shows how devoted and
united the Nazi’s are by their
beliefs. Everything there was
kind of out of body because
everyone was so into it.
“Flames and burning books
were cheered like heroes”
(Zusak 113)
Simile
This displays how happy and
proud of themselves they were
for burning the books. They
thought that getting rid of the
books would help get rid of the
Jews.
Part 3
1. Character Analysis
Character
Changes
Circumstances
Relationships
Part 3 - Ilsa
“the mayor’s wife,
having let the girl is for
the fourth time... had
given permission for
her to pull one out and
go through it” (Zusak
144)
Ilsa is becoming more
kind and generous than
she seemed before.
She is not as cold and
somewhat rude as she
was before.
“a smile appeared to
have paralyzed her
lips” (Zusak 135)
Seeing Liesel’s
happiness surprisingly
makes her happy too.
“For a moment, she
played with her hands,
and she said it again
‘He froze to death I’m
sure of it’”
(Zusak 146)
Ilsa obviously still
misses her son. She has
to believe that he froze
to death because that
would’ve been less
painful.
2. Discussion Questions (3)
1. How do you think Max will become more important to the story?
2. Do you think the relationship between Liesel an Ilsa will grow? Why or why not?
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Happy G. Lucky
Ms. Tafoya
PAP English II
March XX, 2015
3. What do you think was Ilsa’s motivation to let Liesel in for the first time?
3. Literary Log
Section of Text (pg)
Literary Device
Effect of Device
“A draft made itself known.
something like the imagined
breath of a corpse” (Zusak 132)
Simile
Helps illustrate the look and feel
of the situation. The draft
makes the mayor’s house feel
cold and stiff. The reference to
the breath of a corpse implies
that there may have been life
and liveliness in that house at
one point, but not anymore.
“‘Saukerl,’ she laughed, and as
she held up her hand, she knew
completely that he was
simultaneously calling her a
Saumensch. I think that’s as
close to love as eleven-year-olds
can get” (Zusak 144).
Diction
This explains Liesel and Rudy’s
relationship perfectly.They act
mean to each other, but it’s all
out of the love that they have
for each other deep down. The
fact that she knew what he was
thinking shows how well she
knows him and how much she
loves him.
Part 4
1. Character Analysis
Character
Changes
Circumstances
Relationships
Part 4 - Hans
“I’m losing customers
quicker than I can
count” (Zusak 181).
Because Hans refuses
to be a member of the
party, he begins to lose
customers left and
right. This change
happens because of the
Jew, Erik, who saved his
life.
“He wrote the letters
as best he could while
the rest of the men
went into battle. None
of them came back”
(Zusak 178).
Because Erik
volunteered Hans to
write the letters that
day, he was the only
one who survived. Hans
owes his life to Erik.
“a German Jew named
Erik Vandenburg--who
taught him how to play
the accordion. The two
of them gradually
became friends due to
the fact that neither of
them was terribly
interested in fighting”
(Zusak 175).
Erik was a great friend
to Hans and is part of
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Happy G. Lucky
Ms. Tafoya
PAP English II
March XX, 2015
why he is the man that
he is today.
2. Discussion Questions (3)
1. Discuss the importance of loyalty to one’s own relationships and beliefs.
2. Discuss the theme of perseverance that Max displays.
3. How do you think the relationship between Liesel and max will grow?
3. Literary Log
Section of Text (pg)
Literary Device
Effect of Device
“His fingers smelled of suitcase,
metal, Mein Kampf, and
survival”
Imagery
This describes everything that
Max has in one sentence. His
fingers hold what he has and is,
and the short list of things
describes Max at first glance.
“There was new blood in him-the blood of victory--and it had
the capability to both frighten
and excite” (Zusak 190).
Metaphor/Diction
There is blood everywhere in us.
We are filled with it. We need it
to survive. Max’s “new blood”
represents a new Max. Having
the blood of victory means that
he is victory. This illustrates how
much Max wanted and needed
to win. But, this feeling not only
scared him (what would happen
if he won?), but also greatly
excited him. He wanted victory
so much even though he didn’t
know what the aftermath would
look like.
“Imagine smiling after a slap in
the face. Then think of doing it
twenty-four hours a day. That
was the business of hiding a
Jew” (Zusak 211)
Metaphor
This shows how hard it was for
them to be hiding Max. They
have the constant pain and fear
of him being there, similar to
being slapped in the face, but
they have to put on a nice face
and pretend nothing was wrong.
5
Happy G. Lucky
Ms. Tafoya
PAP English II
March XX, 2015
Part 5
1. Character Analysis
Character
Changes
Circumstances
Relationships
Part 5 - Liesel
“Her sadness left her
and she was
overwhelmed with
anger” (Zusak 261)
This is somewhat of a
turning point for Liesel.
Not only in that very
moment, but also in
growing up and in her
life. She chose to not
mope around and be
sad, but instead to get
angry. This is the point
in which she stops
feeling sorry for
herself, and begins
standing up for herself.
“She reached into the
chest of drawers and
withdrew an
envelope... ‘I’m sorry.
It’s for your mama.’
Liesel stopped
breathing” (Zusak 259)
Liesel is shocked and
hurt that the mayor
and his wife will no
longer be employing
Rosa for their laundry.
This tears Liesel apart
and makes her feel
betrayed and hopeless.
“Max and Liesel were
held together by the
quiet gathering of
words” (Zusak 248)
Liesel’s relationship
with Max continues to
grow through the
power of words which
they both enjoy.
2. Discussion Questions (3)
1. What do you think of the revealed ending?
2. Discuss the importance of the journey vs. the result.
3. Discuss the power of love that Rudy displays when saving Liesel’s book.
3. Literary Log
Section of Text (pg)
Literary Device
Effect of Device
“the war was progressing
splendidly” (Zusak 259)
Diction
I just thought that that was an
incredibly interesting way to
speak of a war. Using the word
“splendidly” was an interesting
and almost unsettling choice.
The way they look at the war is
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Happy G. Lucky
Ms. Tafoya
PAP English II
March XX, 2015
“splendid,” but that to me is
horrific.
“Cuts had opened up and a
Metaphor
series of wounds were rising to
the surface of her skin. All from
the words. From Liesel’s words.”
(Zusak 263)
Again, words show a different
importance in part five. This
time, it is Liesel’s words that
cause Ilsa to feel all the pains of
losing her son again. Ilsa is not
only shocked to hear Liesel’s
words, but also at how true they
are.
Part 6
1. Character Analysis
Character
Changes
Circumstances
Relatioonships
Part 6 - Death
“Summer came... For
me, the sky was the
color of Jews” (Zusak
349)
As the war continues
on, all Death seems to
see is a sky of Jew’s
lives being taken.
“There were certainly
some rounds to be
made that year, from
Poland to Russia to
Africa and back again”
(Zusak 308)
The war directly affects
Death in that it makes
his job much more busy
than ever.
“To me, war is like the
new boss who expects
the impossible” (Zusak
309)
Although you might
expect them to be best
friends, Death dreads
war quite a lot. Death
feels that war
pressures him to
always do more.
2. Discussion Questions (3)
1. Why is it that Max survived his serious illness and did not die in this part? What caused him to fight so
hard?
2. Why are words and Liesel reading to Max significant in this part?
3. How is the theme of colors important again in this part?
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Happy G. Lucky
Ms. Tafoya
PAP English II
March XX, 2015
3. Literary Log
Section of Text (pg)
Literary Device
Effect of Device
“The bombs were coming--and
so was I” (Zusak 335)
Foreshadowing
Death tells us that there are
many more bombs and deaths
to come. This makes the reader
a little bit scared and nervous,
especially because Max is just
starting to get better.
“My arms ached and I couldn’t
afford to burn my fingers. There
was still so much work to be
done” (Zusak 336)
Imagery
This helps to illustrate how
many deaths there were and
how hard Death had to work to
carry all of their souls. Not only
that, but also how more is to
come. This part of the book
shows a lot of bombings and
death, and these couple
sentences summarize that.
Part 7
1. Character Analysis
Part 7 - Liesel
“A voice played the
notes inside her. This, it
said, is your accordion”
(Zusak 381)
Liesel discovers that
like Hans, she has a
unique ability that
moves people. When
she reads, people listen
and it helps to subdue
their fears. It is
confirmed in this part
that her reading is not
only meaningful and
moving for her, but also
for everyone around
her.
“‘I liked that book you
read in the shelter... So
I want you to come to
my place and read it to
me” (Zusak 387)
Liesel’s talent for
reading has a downside
because now she must
read for the woman
that is always rude to
her family and spits on
their door. Although
she loves reading, she
dreads doing so for this
woman.
“One was a book thief.
The other stole the sky”
(Zusak 381)
This enforces the
connection between
Max and Leisel. They
are both thieves of
things that they can not
always easily acquire.
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Happy G. Lucky
Ms. Tafoya
PAP English II
March XX, 2015
2. Discussion Questions (3)
1. Discuss the irony of the fact that Hans was the one to gain more business as times got more and more
tough.
2. Death gives denotative definitions of various words throughout the part, but this makes the reader
also think of their connotative meanings. How do these definitions add another layer to the power and
meaning of words?
3. Why do you think the “coat men” want Rudy?
3. Literary Log
Section of Text (pg)
Literary Device
Effect of Device
“Fear: an unpleasant, often
strong emotion caused by
anticipation or awareness of
danger” (Zusak 375)
Diction
Giving this definition helps
illustrate exactly the feeling not
only in the basement at that
time, but also in this general
point in the book. The repeated
bombings obviously cause fear
for everyone, and it can be read
on everyone’s faces.
“From a Himmel Street window, Diction
he wrote, the stars set fire to my
eyes” (Zusak 378)
This shows how privileged Max
feels just to have had the
opportunity to see stars, which
he hasn’t seen in so long. He has
been stuck in a dark basement
for so long and has only had
contact to the outside world
through what Liesel has told
him. This makes the reader
appreciate similar little luxuries
that they may have.
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Happy G. Lucky
Ms. Tafoya
PAP English II
March XX, 2015
Part 8
1. Character Analysis
Character
Changes
Circumstances
Relationships
Part 8 - Hans
“Ignoring the warnings
of their wives, both
men drank themselves
into oblivion” (Zusak
420)
Despite having not had
a drink in a long time,
Hans get’s very drunk
with Alex. This is
probably in hopes of
masking the pain and
nerves of being sent
away to war. This
shows us a side of Hans
that we have not seen
much of before, he is
scared and he turns to
alcohol.
“a statement arrived to
say that Hans
Hubermann was to be
drafted into the
German army” (Zusak
417)
Because of the growing
intensity of the war,
the government is
desperate to draft
anyone that they can,
including Hans, who
was not even a
member of the party
beforehand.
“Hans Hubermann
thought of another
Rudy then... His
thoughts naturally
progressed to Liesel
and Rosa and the
Steiners, and Max”
(Zusak 437)
Hans becomes
concerned for his
friends and family back
home when hearing
someone call out to
their boy named Rudy.
Being away causes
Hans to miss them all
very much and he is
very concerned for
their safety.
2. Discussion Questions (3)
1. Discuss the softer and more vulnerable side of Rosa that we see after Hans leaves.
2. How does Rudy display similarity to Max in his desire to take on Hitler?
3. What do you think will become of Hans and/or Alex?
3. Literary Log
Section of Text (pg)
Literary Device
“Words like compulsory and
Imagery
duty were beaten into the page”
(Zusak 418)
Effect of Device
The forcefulness shown in the
draft letter reflects the same
aggression show by Germany at
the time. Everything was harsh,
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Happy G. Lucky
Ms. Tafoya
PAP English II
March XX, 2015
even the way they wrote their
letters drafting men into the
war. They were trying so hard to
convince the men that they
needed and had to join the
army.
“In the words of Rudy’s
youngest sisters, there were
two monsters sitting in the
kitchen” (Zusak 407)
Diction
In general, children are very
blunt and matter of fact about
things. Children say it like it is,
and Rudy’s younger sisters
referring to the men as
“monsters” is no exception. In a
child’s eyes, they really are
monsters. They came into their
home and their intentions are
obviously not friendly. The idea
of them being monsters
symbolizes the blunt nature of
children, and describes the
personality and intentions of
the “coat men.”
Part 9
1. Character Analysis
Character
Changes
Circumstances
Relationships
Part 9 - Rudy
“Since his father’s
recruitment to the
army the previous
October, Rudy’s anger
had been growing
nicely” (Zusak 481)
As more time passes
by, Rudy’s sadness is
not as prominent as his
anger. He is showing a
similar characteristic of
growing up that Liesel
has showed previously:
instead of moping
around about his
“Rudy smiled and
laughed, and Liesel
could see that he was
at least trying.
However, she could
also see the bitter taste
in his mouth” (Zusak
479)
After hearing the news
that Hans is coming
home, Rudy is happy
for them, but then
begins to think about
his own father and
wonder about his
“Why Hans Hubermann
and not Alex Steiner?”
(Zusak 480)
Rudy clearly misses his
Father and wants to be
happy for Liesel and
Rosa, but finds it hard
not to wonder about
when his own father
will come home, if
ever.
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Happy G. Lucky
Ms. Tafoya
PAP English II
March XX, 2015
problems, he is
attempting to take
action against them, no
matter how unlikely his
desired outcome may
be.
safety and wellbeing.
2. Discussion Questions (3)
1. Discuss why the desire to win/holding grudges caused Reinhold to lose his life. Was it karma?
2. How does Liesel show growth and maturity in this part?
3. What sides of Rudy do we see in this part that we haven’t seen much before?
3. Literary Log
Section of Text (pg)
Literary Device
Effect of Device
“when the Russian scenery
fades in my eyes, the snow
refuses to stop falling from the
ceiling” (Zusak 470)
Imagery
The snow represents the many
deaths that happened in
Stalingrad. There were so many
that that is all that Death can
remember about it. This helps
illustrate what Stalingrad was
like at the time.
“I don’t call that stealing.
Stealing is what the army does.
Taking your father, and mine”
(Zusak 482)
Diction
Rudy’s words give a new,
surprising, and more intense
meaning of the word “stealing.”
What Liesel does is not in fact
stealing, because she is
practically invited to do it, and it
doesn’t mean anything
anymore. What true stealing is
is taking someone or something
that is very important to that
person. This suggests that
merely stealing a book is
meaningless, making everything
that Liesel has done not nearly
as exciting as it used to seem. As
Liesel and Rudy grow up,
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Happy G. Lucky
Ms. Tafoya
PAP English II
March XX, 2015
perhaps they’ve moved on from
stealing fruit and books, which
now seems childish.
Part 10
1. Character Analysis
Character
Changes
Circumstances
Relationships
Part 10 - Death
“He does something to
me, that boy. Every
time. It’s his only
detriment. He steps on
my heart. He makes me
cry” (Zusak 531)
Rudy is the first and
only person that Death
says really touches him
and makes him cry.
Rudy was the only one
who didn’t deserve to
die and who had many
reasons to live. Rudy is
someone that impacts
Death like no one else.
“it’s lucky I’m
somewhat miraculous.
No one else could carry
close to forty-five
thousand people in
such a short amount of
time” (Zusak 506)
Because of the
bombing in Hamburg,
many people die and
Death has to carry all of
those people. Probably
one of the largest
amounts of people he’s
had to carry at one
time.
“It’s lucky I was there.
Then again, who am I
kidding? I’m in most
places at least once,
and in 1943, I was just
about everywhere”
(Zusak 539)
The last line of the
book basically states
that Death is
everywhere and has a
relationship with
everyone. Whether
he’s taken their soul or
not, he has a
connection to everyone
because he’s been
everywhere and seen
everyone, especially in
the important year of
1943.
2. Discussion Questions (3)
1. Discuss Death’s different reactions to the different souls that he takes on Himmel Street.
2. Is there any significance in the order in which that everyone died? If so, explain.
3. Why did Death take Liesel’s book?
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Happy G. Lucky
Ms. Tafoya
PAP English II
March XX, 2015
3. Literary Log
Section of Text (pg)
Literary Device
Effect of Device
“No one wanted to bomb
Himmel Street. No one would
bomb a place named after
heaven, would they? Would
they?” (Zusak 498)
Diction
The fact that Himmel Street
does get bombed is sad in that it
seems that if “heaven” is
bombed, then all hope is lost.
Heaven is that place that is
supposed to be better than
earth, the place where people
go when they die, when they
escape the horrors of earth. But,
if there is no heaven, then
where do people go? What is
there to look forward to, or to
hope for lost loved ones? The
bombing of Himmel Street or
“heaven” symbolizes complete
loss of hope and life.
“Everything was new and
apocalyptic” (Zusak 533)
Diction
Everything is new, and yet
ending at the same time. This
moment marks the end of
Himmel Street, and of all of
Liesel’s friends and family.
However, it is still a beginning in
some way. After this moment,
Death begins to learn and tell
Liesel’s story.
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