The Book Thief Essay

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In The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, the author portrays the theme, those who have suffered in the past have a great deal of courage because of it. Liesel Meminger was a young girl in Germany during World War 2. In the beginning of the book, Liesel watches her own brother die and her own mother gives her up to foster parents, the Hubermanns. She learns to read and write there and has so many ups and downs throughout. As Germany was in the midst of WW2 there began to be air raids, where Germany’s citizens had to begin to take cover. Air raid sirens were heard all throughout Liesel’s city of Molching and all residents of Himmel Street were to take cover in the Fiedler’s basement (one of the residents on Himmel Street) because they had the deepest basement. …show more content…

The book on top of the pile was The Whistler and she spoke it aloud to help her concentrate...By page three, everyone was silent but Liesel...For at least twenty minutes, she handed out the story. The youngest kids were soothed by her voice, and everyone else saw visions…” (Zusak 381). Despite being scared for herself, others, and especially Max back home, Liesel found the smarts and strength to keep herself focused so everyone would remain calm and have something to distract them from the outside. Liesel put aside her own fear and worries and displayed great courage in doing so. Max also demonstrated a lot of bravery all over the story. Death was describing to the readers what happened to the Jew, Max, at the very beginning of his journey to Himmel Street, “When he was pushed out by the rest of his family, the relief struggled inside him like an obscenity. It was something he didn’t want to feel, but nonetheless, he felt it with such gusto it made him want to throw up. How could

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