The Books

The Gravedigger’s Handbook The books, themselves, are powerful and recurring symbols throughout the novel. The Grave Digger’s Handbook is a symbol of Liesel’s grief and the loss of her younger brother, Werner. “The Grave Digger’s Handbook” is the first book Liesel steals, despite the fact she cannot read. It is a direct connection to her brother, but it also is the beginning of her education and her mastery of words that can be used, she soon realises, to heal, to wound and to save. She hides The Grave Digger's Handbook underneath her mattress. For her, the book signifies the last time she saw her mother and her brother.

The Gravedigger’s Handbook The Grave Digger's Handbook also helps establish Liesel as "The Heavyweight Champion of the School Yard" (12.Title)... which isn't necessarily a good thing. She recites a passage from the book in class when she isn't able to read the assigned material. Oops. Poor Liesel gets teased, of course. Then she becomes a bully for a few moments. She even turns her wrath on innocent Tommy Müller, in addition to the boy who teases her (Ludwig Shmeikl). Walking home with Rudy afterwards, Liesel admits that her reaction was driven by all the suffering, humiliation, and loss she's been experiencing (especially by the loss of her brother, Werner). This realization helps her to not fall into violent and bullying ways—which would be easy to do in an atmosphere where violence and bullying are the norm.

The Shoulder Shrug The Shoulder Shrug, being stolen from the Nazi book burning is a symbol of defiance and Liesel’s realisation that Hitler is to blame for her family’s misfortunes. This book is about a Jewish character and would therefore be seen as seditious literature by the Nazis.

We don't know much about the actual contents of The Shoulder Shrug, Liesel's second stolen book, other than that it features a Jewish protagonist. This is why the novel is sentenced to burn in Hitler's birthday book burning in Molching. Somehow, this book is too strong, or too wet, or too lucky to burn up quickly. It's only smoldering when Liesel steals it. The timing is important here. 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 is a way for her get revenge on her new sworn enemy, Adolf Hitler. Sure she wants a book to read, but she also wants to take back some of what Hitler is destroying. Pretty heady stuff for an eleven-year-old (she's eleven now). Stealing The Shoulder Shrug also opens the doors to a whole word of books. If Ilsa Hermann, the mayor's wife, hadn't seen Liesel steal the book from the fire, she might never have invited Liesel into her library. Liesel might have been hard-up for books. Books aside, Liesel's relationship with Ilsa is complicated, but, we have to say, the woman proves to be a true friend. Most importantly, perhaps, Liesel's theft of The Shoulder Shrug "inspire[s] Hans Hubermann to come up with a plan to help the Jewish fist fighter”. That Jewish fist fighter is Max. Liesel's very special friendship with Max comes to define her in many ways. It certainly makes her a sympathetic character, but more importantly, it helps her see the difference between right and wrong.

Mein Kampf Written in 1925 by Hitler while he was in prison. It contained his political ideology as well as some elements of autobiography. He claimed the German (Aryan) race was superior to all others and should take over the world. The extremely racist book, focused on the inferiority and evil of Jews. The book became the Nazi bible, 10 million copies sold by the end of the war. This book arrives with Max. It is what he reads when travelling on the train. In effect, it saves him as when he is reading this people assume he is a loyal German.

The Standover Man The Standover Man. This is where it becomes really clever. Max paints over the pages of Mein Kampf and writes The Standover Man. Here we have the poison and extremism of Hitler’s works wiped out and a story of love and friendship written in its place. It is a symbol of good triumphing over evil, love being stronger than hate. **Before reading The Standover Man, have students look at the drawings only. Then, discuss these questions: • What story do you think the pictures are telling? • Who are the two characters? • What is their relationship? • What are they talking about or discussing? • What is the significance of the last page?

The pictures and stories that Max draws and writes during his time in the Hubermann’s cellar are an important part of the novel. They helped to keep him alive by passing time, providing him with a mental and creative release, as well as proving to be vitally therapeutic in making sense of the many thoughts, feelings and emotions he experienced as a result of his confinement. 1. Before reading The Standover Man in the novel, look at the drawings only (minus the accompanying text). • What story do you think the pictures are telling? • Who are the two characters? • What is their relationship? • What are they talking about or discussing?

Max hits on the idea of painting the pages of Hitler's book white and using the pages to write The Standover Man and The Word Shaker. Liesel learns that kind words can be used to combat hateful ones. These two books are about friendship and the power of words to make a difference. Although this knowledge doesn't keep her family and friends on Himmel Street from dying in bomb blasts, it pushes Liesel to act as courageously as she can. These three books also point to the development of Liesel's secret life during most of her time on Himmel Street. The fact that she was able to keep these books—and Max—a secret (until she finally tells Rudy, after Max has been captured) is a testament to her courage and strength. The Word Shaker also alludes to Liesel's own calling: shaking words. She shakes them from books, from her own lips, and from the lips of others. It reminds her to plant and shake words of friendship and love, especially where hate is thriving.

The Whistler Death uses this chapter to foreshadow two events: Rudy's jumping in the river to save one of Liesel's books, and, afterwards, his asking her for a kiss. Even Rudy knows how important Liesel's books are to her. The second event is Rudy's death. This chapter also shows us how Death is affected by his work, how he has a heart.

Liesel takes the washing for the last time to 8 Grande Strasse Liesel takes the washing for the last time to 8 Grande Strasse. She reads in the library and, again, Frau Hermann insists Liesel take The Whistler. This time, Liesel does. Then, Frau Hermann hands Liesel a letter and apologizes to Liesel, telling her to apologize to her mother, too. Although Frau Hermann doesn't say it, Liesel knows that Rosa has been fired from her last washing job. Frau Hermann says that Liesel can still come by and read. Liesel thanks her and leaves, then sits on the steps just outside and reads the note from the mayor, which outlines why the Hermanns are canceling their washing service. As she begins her walk home, Liesel becomes increasingly angry with the mayor and his wife, especially with the gift of The Whistler. She views this gift as one made out of pity and turns back to the mayor's house. She knocks on the door and berates Frau Hermann, telling her that she doesn't want her worthless book, that she won't take this pity gift. She says that it's about time Frau Hermann and her husband started doing their own laundry sitting up there in their mansion. Then, Liesel brings up the Hermanns' son and says that Frau Hermann needs to face the truth that her son is dead and she's pathetic. She throws The Whistler at Frau Hermann's feet and can see that the woman is bleeding and bruised from her words.

The Whistler, a book about a murderer on the run from the police, is important to Liesel's character in several ways. This is the book she's been reading in Ilsa's library when Ilsa breaks the news that she can no longer pay Rosa to do her laundry. She's the last customer they have, and Liesel is furious. We see a super angry side of Liesel come out. She uses words against Ilsa and refuses to take The Whistler when it's offered. This marks another change in her life. She'll no longer enter Ilsa's library through the door. Instead, she'll start coming through the window to steal the books. The Whistler is the first book she steals from Ilsa. In part, she steals it for Rudy, even though he would have preferred something edible. In general, we see this book as connected with Rudy and Liesel's relationship. For most of the book, they have a close friendship. (Though it seems like Rudy is in love with Liesel, whereas Liesel isn't so sure.) When Rudy victoriously rescues The Whistler from the Amper River, where it's been thrown by Viktor Chemmel (leader #2 of the fruit stealing gang), he 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. (44.42) As the end nears, Liesel's feelings for Rudy do grow stronger, but Rudy is killed 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. It's not the first or the last time she'll feel it, but probably one of the most intense. The Whistler is also the first book Liesel reads to the residents of Himmel Street to the bomb shelters. These public readings help Liesel see that her passion can be used to help those around her on a large scale.

The Dream Carrier a book about "an abandoned child who wants to be a priest" (48.51), is another one of the books Liesel (now thirteen) steals from Ilsa Hermann's library. Even though Rudy's with her when she steals it, it's more closely associated with Liesel's relationship with Max. She steals this book in 1942 when Max is gravely ill and in a coma. For obvious reasons, no doctor can be called, and Liesel offers the only cures she knows—prayer, gift-giving and reading to him from The Dream Carrier. The combination of reading The Dream Carrier and spending all her free time with the comatose Max changes Liesel's dreams. One night, Max's face and body take the place of her brother Werner's in her recurring nightmare. All of this points to her increasing sensitivity and ability to draw parallels between seemingly disparate situations, like a six year old boy dying on a train and the comatose young man before her. She's also feeling a deep burden of guilt. By bringing snow to the sub-zero basement-bound Max, she contributes to his current state of illness. But, as his writings and words later show her, the gift of snow was worth it. Perhaps, just perhaps, Max's comatose state is a relief from his own guilt and suffering... giving his body a chance to heal a little. The Dream Carrier also alludes to the fact that Liesel has been having the same nightmare (of her brother dying on the train) every night for over two years. She's literally carrying the moment with her in her dreams. A year later, when she's able to stop carrying him in her nightmares, and instead carry him in her heart, we can see her reaching deeper levels of psychological maturity in spite of her trauma.

The Book Thief (the one in the story) The Book Thief (the one in the story). This is the book that Liesel writes and ironically the book that saves her life…. She survives because she is in the basement writing when the bomb drops. She loses this book and it is picked up by death. There is hardly a dry eye in the class when at her own end, Death returns the book, having read it many times.

The Book Thief is the name of the book Liesel writes over the period leading up to the bombing of Himmel Street. It's the book Death rescues from the garbage and returns to Liesel when she dies. It's the book that literally saves her life. If she hadn't been editing it in the basement on the night of the Himmel Street bombing, she would have died along with everybody else. The concentration Liesel summons points again to her strength of character. Her ability to find a positive outlet for her emotions also says a lot about her. Of course, she didn't just decide to write a book all on her own. She has a little help from Ilsa Hermann. This points to the irony of the title. Ilsa gives her the blank book after Liesel has given up book thievery and books in general. Though we're sure she reads again, her book marks her graduation from reader to serious author. What we want to know is if Liesel writes more books when she grows up—and if not, why.