The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”-Book Thief (528). In The Book Thief, a historical fiction novel, the protagonist reveals that words hold the power to spread ideas, and it suggests that the power can be dangerous. Liesel Meminger is a courageous little girl, who was adopted by Hans and Rosa Hubermann. They lived in a small town called Molching, just outside of Munich, Germany. One night, Hans finds The Grave Digger's Handbook smushed under Liesel's mattress after one of her typical nightmares; seeing her brother dead on the train. When Hans saw the book under the mattress it inspired him to teach Liesel the wonders of reading and writing. Through the characterization of Liesel Meminger, Markus Zusak

reveals that the power of words is the most powerful way to connect with people. Through Liesel’s traits of being courageous, curious, and determined.
There are many ways to describe Liesel, but being courageous stands out the most.

When Liesel first arrived she was mute and terrified of what the future has in store, “She was a girl with a mountain to climb.”(86) She had a lot to overcome; her brothers death, moving into a new home, living with Max, and the war. She had to put her past behind her, fresh start, with a new beginning, and a clean slate. Liesel had to overcome the first day of school and being made fun of for not knowing how to read or write, “In the break, she was taunted. “Hey, Liesel. I’m having trouble with this word. Could you read it for me?” He laughed- a ten-year-old, smugness laughter. “You Dummkopf- you idiot.””(78) Moments after that she beat up Ludwig Schmeikl. She showed him that the words he said to Liesel won’t hurt her, but only motivate her to fight back. Liesel was always motivated to make things right. Whether it was fighting back for herself or fighting of fear with words for other. In the air raid, Liesel used tranquil voice to help show people there was hope. “The youngest kids were soothed by her voice, and everyone else saw visions of the whistler running from the crime scene. Liesel did not. The book thief saw only the mechanics of the words–their bodies stranded on the paper, beaten down for her to walk on.”(381) Liesel read aloud during the air raids and bombing to take people's minds off of what was happening outside. She used her love of words to bring courage to everyone in the

basement.
Liesel has gone through some rough times, but what keeps her questioning and searching for answers is her curiosity.

Reading and writing has shown her that, "The best word shakers were the ones who understood the true power of words. They were the ones who could climb the highest. One such word shaker was a small, skinny girl. She was renowned the best word shaker of her region because she knew how powerless a person could be without words. That's why she could climb higher than anyone else. She had a desire. She was hungry for them. “(445) Liesel has reached the top because she knew life before learning how to read and write. She had the curiosity, and the drive to want to learn. She met many people along the way of her journey of learning such as Hans, Max, and Rudy. Liesel has a very large bond with all of them, and when death takes their souls it leaves her heartbroken. But this tragedy only motivates her to keep going and tell their stories. Along Liesel’s adventure, a man named Max came to hide at their house because he was a Jew. Since, he was a Jew he had to stay in their basement so no one would see him. One day he asks, “Could you fo up and tell me how the weather looks?” This is not Liesel asking but it’s Max. Liesel responds back with, “The sky is blue today, Max, and there is a big long cloud, and it's stretched out, like a rope. At the end of it, the sun is like a yellow hole. . .”(249) Liesel answers Max’s curiosity. This gives Max and Liesel a bond. By

helping him paint a picture of the day in his mind that he hasn’t seen in forever. Also, Liesel shows curiosity when Max first arrives at the Hubermann's house. When he falls asleep, Liesel sees a book lying next to him, and she quietly tiptoes over and takes the book. "When Liesel came down, she found the book sitting next to him, slanted against his thigh, and curiosity got the best of her."(278) Liesel wanted to know Max, and she hoping to find some clues from the book. Liesel found out that the book was about Hitler. Later, when Max wakes up she finds out they have a lot in common; that they both love words and books.
Over the course of the book Liesel has changed dramatically. Such as the first day of school of when she was made fun of as determination. At the beginning of the book when she first arrived at the Hubermann’s house, “They discovered she couldn't read or write.” She has grown and progressed during the time that she was with Hans and Rosa. She achieved her goals because she was determined and would never give up for what she believed in. As time went on she wanted to tell her own stories, "I thought if you're not going to read any more of my books, you might like to write one instead. […] You can certainly write. You write well." (440)This marked the time when Liesel transformed from the reader to the storyteller. By creating her own story it opened up a whole new world for Liesel. The stories Liesel wrote lasted long after she was gone, “The fingers of her soul touched the story that was written so long ago in her Himmel Street basement.” (549) After Liesel was taken by death the book went with her and it disintegrated. Her book touched the lives of all the people who read it.
Through Liesel’s actions of being courageous, curious, and determined, she has shown us the power of words, and that words are the most powerful force there is. People use words in many ways to show anger, excitement, to calm them, or mediation. Words empathize how people feel. Authors can make words good or bad and through their stories they can make them “right”.