The Book Thief - Reading Calendar
You are expected to have the assigned reading completed for the day. It is safe to
assume that there will be a reading quiz based on the readings. Please keep in mind
that you should be reading at least 30 minutes every night. Even if you are absent,
you are expected to keep up with the assigned reading.
Week
1. February 23-27
2 March 2-6
3 March 9-13
4. March 16-20
5. March 23-27
6. March 30-April 3
7. April 6-10
8. April 13-17
9. April 20-24
10. April 27-May 1
11. May 4-8
Due Dates
Page Numbers
Length to be Read
March 2
41
March 4
March 5
Anticipation Guide
3-45
46-61
62-80
March 9
83-100
18
March 10
100-113
13
March 12
114-122
8
March 23
125-141
16
March 24
142-156
14
March 26
157-170
13
March 30
173-196
23
April 1
197-222
25
April 7
223-238
15
April 9
241-266
25
April 13
267-292
25
April 14
293-303
10
April 16
307-335
28
April 20
335-358
23
April 21
359-388
29
April 23
389-403
14
April 27
407-430
23
April 28
431-455
24
April 30
459-480
21
May 4
481-493
12
May 5
497-515
18
May 7
516-552
36
15
11
The Book Thief – Annotation Guide
The following are major thematic ideas and concepts discussed in the novel. I have
numbered them; as you read look for these thematic ideas & place the number of the
thematic idea in the margins of the novel as it comes up.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
The power of words
The human capacity to love
The human capacity to hate
Relationships – Family
Courage
Suffering
Death
Friendship
The role of chance/fate
Hope
The following are literary terms we will discuss as we read the novel. As you read, look for
and annotate where the terms are used. Place the letter of the term in the margins of the
novel when it is used.
A. Allusion – A reference to a person, place, poem, book, event, etc., which is not part of
the story, that the author expects the reader will recognize. Example: In Romeo and
Juliet, Mercutio alludes to several historical figures and Greek & Roman myths when
he says that Juliet, in Romeo’s mind, is prettier than Dido, Cleopatra, Helen, Hero,
and Thisbe.
B. Imagery – The use of words in order to appeal our one of the five senses.
C. Metaphor – A comparison of two different things without using “like” or “as”.
D. Personification – A figure of speech in which an object, abstract idea, or animal is
given human characteristics.
E. Simile – a comparison between two different things using either “like” or “as”.
The following are symbols & motifs in the novel. As you read, look for and annotate where
these symbols and motifs are found and developed. Place a star by the symbol or motif and
make note of which symbol or motif it is when it is used in the novel. (A motif is situation,
incident, idea, or image that is repeated significantly in a literary work. Examples: In
Hamlet, revenge is a frequently repeated idea. In The Cather in the Rye, Holden continually
comments on the phoniness of the people he meets.)










Accordion
Books & words
Bread
Cigarettes
Colors
Drawing & pictures
Dreams & nightmares
Fighting
Fire
Lightness & darkness





Promises & secrets
Stealing
The kiss
The snowman
Weather
The Book Thief – Journal Guide
As you read you will keep response journals. You should have ONE response journal
for each week’s assigned reading. Due dates for the journals are:
March 23 (2 entries)
April 20 (4 entries)
May 11 (3 entries)
These journals will include one quote that pertains to either:
1. The development of theme;
2. The use of a literary term
3. The development of a symbol or motif
4. The development of a major character
They should be a minimum of 1 page each, typed, double-spaced. In each entry, you
should include:
a. The quote & page reference
b. The speaker
c. The person or people being spoken to
d. The context in which the quote was said
e. The importance of the quote to the overall story
f. Any connections the quote may have to one of the themes/thematic
ideas
g. Any connections the quote has to your life or the world outside of the
book
On the following page is an example of a journal entry you will be expected to write:
Pamela Strobel
Mrs. Smith
English 10
February 1, 2015
Journal Entry #1
“Katya, do you know what is as asinine as kommunizm? Autocracy. One man, one
person, cannot rule the hearts and minds of millions. Liberty, freedom, truth – this
America can be such a silly place, so fickle and naïve – sometimes so childish! – but it
saves itself because of those first three things” (Alexander, 23).
Misha is speaking to his granddaughter Kate (Katya) while he tells her the story of
how he has come from kitchen boy to the Romanovs in the House of Special Purpose to an
old man in the United States. Misha is a character that is critical of both himself and others.
Misha explains that the idea of autocracy is just as foolish as the idea of communism;
that is, Imperialist Russia was just as silly as Communist Russia. And why is that so?
Because, as he states “One man, one person, cannot rule the hearts and minds of millions.”
As Misha sees it – one person cannot rule over many because he cannot effectively care for
the hopes and concerns of so many people. The ruler will, ultimately, protect himself first,
then those below him.
He is mildly critical, even, of American sentiments and personalities, but says that
America saves herself because of her belief in the ideas of “liberty, freedom, [and] truth”.
What becomes evident is that Misha deeply believes in the values he has stated, and trusts
that America will be safe as long as she holds to these values.
I don’t disagree with Misha’s understanding of autocracy and communism, but I
sometimes wonder if he isn’t critical enough of America. Do we still truly hold to the ideals
of liberty, freedom and truth, or do we let people in charge make decisions for us while we
blindly follow? I think sometimes we allow people to make decisions for us and tell us that
they do so in the name of liberty, freedom, and truth. If we are not careful, we are going to
see our liberties and freedoms revoked because we have turned a blind eye to truth.
The Book Thief Anticipation Guide
Determine whether the following statements are true or false. Put a check in the
appropriate column, and then write at least two sentences explaining your
viewpoint for each statement.
True False Justification
1. Friendship runs
deeper than simply
having fun together.
2. The views of one
person can completely
move a nation.
3. Words are
powerful weapons.
Use them with care.
4. Death is ugly and
scary.
5. Guilt and our
conscience can lead us
to do things we
wouldn’t otherwise
do.
6. Those that truly
love us would never
abandon us.