The Gravedigger's Handbook Sparknotes

Every book that Liesel comes across has a memory attached to it, and has a significant impact on her actions and relationships. Liesel Meminger is the diligent, compassionate, and assertive star of the novel. She loves books so much that she begins to steals them, even before she knows how to read! Liesel had a tough start towards reading. In fact, without her foster father Hans, and his dedication towards teaching her, she would never have learned how to read at all. Since then, reading has captured Liesels interest. Throughout her stay with her foster parents Liesel found refuge, power, and a clearer understanding of the events that shape up her life.

“The Gravedigger's Handbook” is exactly what it sounds like, a handbook teaching you how to dig the perfect graves. It's the first book Liesel steals, and the first book she reads. As with all her books, this one has a bittersweet story behind it. It's bitter as she stole this book from the snowy graveyard of her little brother Werner. It's her only substantial memory of her brother, and mother, whom she isn’t able to see again after that gloomy January day in 1939. For Liesel the book represents a great loss, a great sorrow, and her feelings of abandonment. It represents the end of one phase in her life, and the beginning of another.
“The

Gravedigger's Handbook” also has some very positive associations for Liesel. Along with marking her transformation from uneducated to literate, it also represents Hans and the beginning of Liesel's loving relationship with him. The night Hans finds “The Grave Digger's Handbook” Liesel has the extra embarrassment of wetting the bed. Hans comforts her by replacing her sheets and turning it into a life changing opportunity for them both. Hans’ discovery of the book inspired all their reading and writing lessons. Hence, “The Gravedigger's Handbook” represents a great sadness loss, great friendship and signifies Liesel’s entry into literacy.
“The Gravedigger's Handbook” also helps establish Liesel as "the heavy weight champion of the school-yard"(203). When she is not able to recite a passage from the book in class, Liesel gets mocked. Overwhelmed, she becomes a bully for a split second. She even turns her rage on innocent Tommy Muller, and to Ludwig Shmeikl. In fact, she almost kills Ludwig! Walking home with Rudy afterwards, Liesel admits that her reaction was driven by all the humiliation and loss she's been experiencing, especially by the loss of her brother. This realization helped her to not fall into violent and bullying ways. This would be easy to do in an atmosphere where violence and bullying are the norm.

“The Shoulder Shrug”, Liesel's second stolen book, features a Jewish protagonist. This is why the novel is sentenced to be burned in Hitler's birthday book burning cerimony that took place on Molching Street. Somehow, this book is very strong, damp, and blessed to not be burnt up quickly. Fortunately, the book was only smoldering when Liesels concealed it under her clothing.
Liesel steals it from the bonfire after getting confirmation from Hans that Hitler is likely behind the disappearance of her parents – not to mention the poverty that led to Werner's death. Stealing the book was a way for her to get revenge on her new sworn enemy, Adolf Hitler. Of course, she wants a new book to read, but she also wants to take back some of what Hitler is destroying.
Stealing “The Shoulder Shrug” also opens the doors to a whole world of books. If Ilsa Hermann, the mayor's wife, hadn't seen Liesel steal the book from the fire, she would have never invited Liesel into her home library.

The first book stolen from Ilsa’s library was “The Whistler.” This book was about a murderer on the run from the police. The narrator makes it evident that she is intrigued with the book as he shares pieces of the story with us. This is the book she's been reading in Ilsa's library, before Ilsa breaks the news that she can no longer pay Rosa to do her laundry. Ilsa is the last customer they have. In this part we see the most furious side of Liesel. She uses her words against Ilsa and refuses to take “The Whistler” when it is offered. Now she will no longer be able to enter Ilsa's library through the door. Instead, she will enter through the window to steal the books.
Liesel steals “The Whistler” for Rudy, even though he would have preferred something to eat.

His appreciation was shown when Rudy victoriously rescues “The Whistler” from the Amper River, where it's been thrown by Viktor Chemmel. Rudy’s act shows Liesel his love for her. Death tells us, "He must have loved her so incredibly hard, so hard that he would never ask for her lips again and would go to his grave without them” (303). As the end nears, Liesel's feelings for Rudy do grow stronger, but Rudy passes away before we can see whether she'll act on them. In bitter irony, Liesel finally kisses Rudy when he's dead. This stamps something painful on her character,

regret.
“The Whistler” is also the first book Liesel reads to the residents of Himmel Street to the bomb shelters. Reading this book to the people helped Liesel’s family, not only financially but also socially. Frau Holtzapfel, their neighbor was willing to trade some of her coffee and not continuing to spit on their floor, for reading time with Liesel. This also helped them get to know each other better. As time went by, the families bonds eventually grew stronger.

People are shaped by their experiences. Many grow and change through tragedy, love or loss; in Liesel’s case, books were the catalyst for dealing with her life. All three books played a significant role in the formation of Liesel’s journey. “The Gravedigger’s Handbook” was her first transition into a