The Book Thief By Markus Zusak 4/1/2017 2:23 PM © 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries. The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

Background to the Book Setting—beginning in 1939, going to Molching, Germany then in Molching (a fictional town but perhaps might be Olching, Germany); covering from 1939-1943 Barracks and ammunition factory at Dachau, Germany, March or April 1933 http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005214

Narrator--Death **HERE IS A SMALL FACT *** You are going to die. I am in all truthfulness attempting to be cheerful about this whole topic, though most people find themselves hindered in believing me, no matter my protestations. Please, trust me. I most definitely can be cheerful. I can be amiable. Agreeable. Affable. And that's only the A's. Just don't ask me to be nice. Nice has nothing to do with me. ***Reaction to the *** AFOREMENTIONED fact Does this worry you? I urge you--don't be afraid. I'm nothing if not fair. --Of course, an introduction. A beginning. Where are my manners? I could introduce myself properly, but it's not really necessary. You will know me well enough and soon enough, depending on a diverse range of variables. It suffices to say that at some point in time, I will be standing over you, as genially as possible. Your soul will be in my arms. A color will be perched on my shoulder. I will carry you gently away."

Characters Liesel Meminger—age 9-14 during the chronology of the book Rosa Hubermann—Liesel’s foster mother Hans Hubermann—Liesel’s foster father Max Vandenburg—a Jewish man Rudy Steiner—athletic young man who becomes Liesel’s friend Frau Holtzapfel—neighbor who spits on Hubermanns’ door

Symbols The Grave Digger’s Handbook The Shoulder Shrug The Whistler The Dream Carrier The Complete Duden Dictionary and Thesaurus The Standover Man “The Word Shaker” Hans’ accordian Himmel Street Gifts

Themes Human cruelty vs. self-sacrifice Identity Fantasy Death/dying Friendship Literature and the power of words

Markus Zusak Markus Zusak speaks with Good Morning America’s Charlie Gibson about The Book Thief http://www.abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=1737821 Markus Zusak speaks with School Library Journal about The Book Thief http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/flashVideo/element_id/2140018712/taxid/33733.html