The Book Thief

The Power of Words: Liesel Meminger’s Encounter with Ilsa Hermann

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Certainly, something of great magnitude was coming toward 33 Himmel Street, to which Liesel was currently‎oblivious. To distort an overused human expression, the girl had more immediate fish to fry:‎She had stolen a book.‎Someone had seen her.‎The book thief reacted. Appropriately.‎Every minute, every hour, there was worry, or more to the point, paranoia. Criminal activity […]

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The Dangerous Lesson Hans Hubermann Taught Liesel About Hitler

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She remained on the steps, waiting for Papa, watching the stray ash and the corpse of collected books.‎Everything was sad. Orange and red embers looked like rejected candy, and most of the crowd had vanished.‎She’d seen Frau Diller leave (very satisfied) and Pfiffikus (white hair, a Nazi uniform, the same dilapidated‎shoes, and a triumphant whistle).

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Why We Love to Hate (and Love) Rosa Hubermann

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The rot started with the washing and it rapidly increased.‎When Liesel accompanied Rosa Hubermann on her deliveries across Molching, one of her customers, Ernst‎Vogel, informed them that he could no longer afford to have his washing and ironing done. “The times,” he‎excused himself, “what can I say? They’re getting harder. The war’s making things tight.”

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Blond Hair, Blue Eyes, and Black Charcoal: Rudy Steiner’s Search for Identity

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of charcoal contaminating his fingers. He covered everything, didn’t‎he? he thought. It’s even in his ears, for God’s sake. “Come on.”‎On the way home, Mr. Steiner decided to talk politics with the boy as‎best he could. Only in the years ahead would Rudy understand it all‎—when it was too late to bother understanding anything.‎THE CONTRADICTORY

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Rudy Steiner vs. Liesel Meminger: The Bet, the Mud, and the “Jesse Owens” Legacy

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He took her to Hubert Oval, the scene of the Jesse Owens incident,‎where they stood, hands in pockets. The track was stretched out in‎front of them. Only one thing could happen. Rudy started it.‎“Hundred meters,” he goaded her. “I bet you can’t beat me.”‎Liesel wasn’t taking any of that. “I bet you I can.”‎“What do

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