The Book Thief, by Markus usak

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Recommended: Synopsis of the book Thief

“I am haunted by humans.” (Zusak 550). Being narrated by Death, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, is a novel about an orphan, named Liesel Meminger, who moves in with the Hubermanns in Himmel (Heaven) Street. While she is there, she plunders books from libraries and book burnings during the horrors of World War II. Liesel Meminger’s desire to read helps her deal with the incidents around her and gain insight about the power of words while her insecurity helps her create connections with the beneficent people. Besides stealing and reading words, Liesel Meminger made constant bonds with people. Being moved from place to place and relying on people who ended up leaving her made Liesel not able to trust anyone as quickly as others. Her insecurity sent many other people away but the people who truly loved her. When she first arrives in Himmel Street, she refuses to get out of the car and enter the house until Hans Hubermann comes with his cigarette and coax her out. After that, she has always trusted Hans Hubermann and knew that he would always be there for her unlike the other people previously in her life. When she blocked Rudy’s kick in soccer, he hit her with a snowball and ever since then, he would always follow Liesel and make sure she was okay. He never gave up on her even when she would be annoyed and they ended up being best friends and partners in crime. Finally, Rosa Hubermann, Liesel’s foster mother, would bash her with a wooden spoon and cuss at her but she knew she loved her. Rosa never stopped which made Liesel know that she could trust her foster mother. Although her insecurity drove off many people, it allured the people who have the patience to help her. They never left her intentionally like the other people previ... ... middle of paper ... ...d her and her books. Liesel, the mayor, and the mayor’s wife were the only ones left alive in the community. The most important message is that words have an impact on us for it is the theme of this story. This is what the author wants to convey to the readers. Words have an influence on people to do good and bad things. In the Word Shaker, Max wrote about Liesel and how Hitler realized that words have an effect on people. He also wrote that the people on top are the ones that fully understand words. She benefited from the friends she had. Liesel learns how to read from Hans Hubermann and steal what she loves with Rudy. As Liesel Meminger concludes her narrative, she says, “I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” (Zusak 528) Works Cited Zusak, Markus. Book Thief. United States of America: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. Print.

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