THE BOOK THIEF

THE BOOK THIEF

The book thief is narrated by Death, who tells the story of Liesel Meminger who is ten years old, travels by train with his mother and his little brother, Werner. They are traveling to the small town of Molching, just outside of Munich, Germany, to live with their adoptive parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Werner dies on the train. Before coming to Molching, Liesel attends his brother funeral where he steals the gravedigger manual from the cemetery. The problem is that Liesel can not read.

Liesel starts school, but suffers because she still can not read. He also meets Rudy Steiner, who soon becomes his best friend and partner in stealing books and food. Liesel finally understands what it means to live in Nazi Germany when a book burning is organized to celebrate the birthday of Adolf Hitler on April 20, 1940. This burning is fascinating and, at the same time, disturbing. Now that he can read and write, Liesel understands the value of books and words.

The only thing he knows about his father is that he has been accused of being a communist. At that moment he realizes that it is likely that Hitler is behind the disappearance of his father, the death of his brother and the disappearance of his mother.

Liesel steals her second book, The Man Who Shrugged His Shoulders, from the Burning Pile.

Liesel also establishes a kind of friendship with the wife of the mayor, Ilsa Hermann. Ilsa sees Liesel steal the book The man who shrugged his shoulders. When Liesel visits Ilsa's house for laundry requests, the woman invites the little girl to read in the library. But when Ilsa stops using Rosa laundry service, Liesel starts to steal books, although Ilsa does not seem to mind.

In February of 1943, just after Liesel fourteenth birthday, Liesel and Rosa learn that Hans will return home. The reason for his return is a truck accident in which he ends up with a broken leg. That why his sergeant decides to transfer him back to Munich.

In August of 1943, Liesel sees Max again. He marches from Molching to Dachau. Liesel walks with him in the procession. There she finds out that he was captured about six months ago. The Nazi guards do not look kindly on the courageous actions of Liesel, so they whip Max and her. Rudy avoids that Liesel follows Max and, thanks to this, perhaps saves his life.

He writes in the basement and finds himself doing it when Himmel Street is bombed. All your loved ones die while they sleep. Since Liesel has no one else, the police decide to take care of her. However soon Ilsa Hermann appears on the scene and decides to take her to live at home for a while. Alex Steiner returns home later and Liesel spends time with him.

When the novel is coming to an end, we learn that Liesel dies after having lived a happy life with her husband, children and grandchildren. We also learn that Max has managed to survive the concentration camp and that she and Liesel meet again at the end of World War II.

At the end of the novel, Death returns to Liesel his book, The Thief of books and, in exchange, takes his soul.