Question 3 on the packet

[Stephanie]

The Grave Digger's Handbook is the first book Liesel steals. Why did she take the book? What is significant about the titles of the books she steals? Discuss why she hides The Grave Digger's Handbook under her mattress. Describe Hans Hubermann's reaction when he discovers the book. What does the act of book thievery teach Liesel about life and death? Explain Rudy's reaction when he discovers that Liesel is a book thief. How does stealing books from the mayor's house lead to a friendship with the mayor's wife? Explain how Liesel's own attempt to write a book saves her life.

Well, I think Liesel took The Grave Digger's Handbook because it was her last memory of her mother and her brother. It was also the last time she saw her mother. The significant thing about the titles of the books Liesel steals is that they are all connected to her life somehow, someway. For example, The Whistler, a book Liesel steals from Ilsa about a murderer on the run from the police, is connected to her life because when Liesel finds out that Ilsa can no longer pay Rosa to do her laundry, Liesel is furious and we see a side of her we've never seen before. The reason why Liesel hides The Grave Digger's Handbook is because she is afraid that someone is going to steal it and take her last memories of her mother and brother  with them. I think Hans accepted that she stole a book because he knows that Liesel has had a hard life. I think that the act of book thievery teaches Liesel that life is a gift. That sometimes you have to take risks that are life threatening for your own benefit. I think Rudy was supportive and accepting because they both steal, but just different things. Rudy is in it for food, and Leisel for knowledge. The mayor's wife knows the Liesel is the one who steals books and she encourages her to do so because they bond over books. Liesel gets saved by words because she spends her days in her basement trying to write her own book while everyone gets bombed.