Analysis With the power of a single word, Kommunisten, Liesel begins to see who took not only her father away but also her mother and brother. This chapter illustrates how a single word can have a powerful impact. The Nazi Party can cheer alongside a pile of burning books, but […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: The Shoulder Shrug: 100 Percent Pure German SweatSummary and Analysis Part 2: The Shoulder Shrug: Hitler’s Birthday, 1940
Analysis This chapter establishes and elaborates on the growing tension in Germany, Molching, and even within the Hubermann family. The outer world’s tension parallels the inner tension of the Hubermann household. Similarly, the differing beliefs of Hans and Hans Junior parallel the conflict occurring amongst the German people. This chapter […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: The Shoulder Shrug: Hitler’s Birthday, 1940Summary and Analysis Part 2: The Shoulder Shrug: Dead Letters
Analysis Again, Hans rescues Liesel from her dark place with his accordion. Also, Liesel recognizes many of the elements that Death discusses, this idea of the murkiness of humans and the lives they live. There is a blend of lightness and darkness in the world and within people, and Liesel […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: The Shoulder Shrug: Dead LettersSummary and Analysis Part 2: The Shoulder Shrug: The Town Walker
Analysis The money trouble that begins here for the Hubermanns foreshadows the greater struggles to come, as well as the struggles that many of their neighbors will face. In addition, Liesel is realizing that an outside force is responsible for the loss of her mother and brother — this mysterious […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: The Shoulder Shrug: The Town WalkerSummary and Analysis Part 2: The Shoulder Shrug: The Joy of Cigarettes
Analysis Through her action with words, Liesel reveals how much she’s come to trust her Papa by telling him her brother’s name. When he responds, “Yes,” he indicates that he already knew Werner’s name, that he, too, has thought about the loss of this other child, thus sharing in this […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: The Shoulder Shrug: The Joy of CigarettesSummary and Analysis Part 2: The Shoulder Shrug: A Girl Made of Darkness
Analysis Death describes how Liesel’s second act of thievery propels the events of the story that are yet to come, an act that is preceded still by her hunger for words. Liesel is beginning to understand that her situation — the loss of her mother and brother — is linked […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: The Shoulder Shrug: A Girl Made of DarknessSummary and Analysis Part 1: The Grave Digger’s Handbook: The Heavyweight Champion of the School-Yard
Analysis Death’s descriptions of Hitler’s voice over the radio resonate again with this theme of words carrying power, how they motivate an entire nation to pursue war and the goal of “Deutschland uber Alles,” or “Germany above All.” This power contrasts, again, with Liesel’s lack of power resulting from her […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 1: The Grave Digger’s Handbook: The Heavyweight Champion of the School-YardSummary and Analysis Part 1: The Grave Digger’s Handbook: The Smell of Friendship
Analysis This chapter continues to explore Liesel’s desire to read and master words, as well as her growing relationship and friendship with Hans. There is also a great deal of foreshadowing about the story behind Hans’s accordion and how that story would soon arrive at their house, 33 Himmel Street, […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 1: The Grave Digger’s Handbook: The Smell of FriendshipSummary and Analysis Part 1: The Grave Digger’s Handbook: The Other Side of Sandpaper
Liesel continues to have nightmares about her brother, and she wets her bed. Hans changes her sheets and discovers The Grave Digger’s Handbook. They have their first midnight class. He reads some of the book to her, and then he teaches her the alphabet, drawing letters and pictures on the […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 1: The Grave Digger’s Handbook: The Other Side of SandpaperSummary and Analysis Part 1: The Grave Digger’s Handbook: The Jesse Owens Incident
Analysis Through the use of Alex Steiner’s character, Death illustrates how persuasive Hitler’s propaganda is. Even a good man like Alex Steiner considers the idea that he might be better off with less competition. He is worried about his family and wants to do what he can to ensure their […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 1: The Grave Digger’s Handbook: The Jesse Owens Incident