Liesel’s Library

1. Liesel’s Library Finding Deeper Meaning in Imaginary Titles

2. The Grave Digger’s Handbook • Stolen: January 13, 1939 • A how-to manual about digging graves • Brother died—taken from his burial • About to go to a new home & leave mother • Her father has been gone since she was young

3. The Grave Digger’s Handbook • Meaning • Reminder of past as she moves ahead • The first road into reading and interest in words

4. Faust the Dog • Gift: Christmas 1939 • Present from Rosa and Hans • Hans traded cigarettes for them • Hans Jr. thinks she should be reading Mein Kampf • Read it 13 times • Has lovely pictures

5. Faust the Dog • Meaning • Caring, loving gesture • Family building & strengthening love of reading

6. The Lighthouse • Gift: Christmas 1939 • Same events as Faust the Dog AND • Longer and more adult • Read 9 times • Liesel’s reading pace increases with each reading

7. The Lighthouse • Meaning: • “light” has a good connotation • Representative of their household • Indicates their experiences at this time • “great joy” “happy time”

8. The Shoulder Shrug • Stolen: Hitler’s Birthday Bonfire; April 20, 1940 • Plot: Jewish protagonist in a positive light; rich, and decided he didn’t want to let the pleasures and problems of life pass him by (shrug his shoulders at them) • Labeled as propaganda • Gives Hans an idea • “I hate the Fürher” conversation • “Hans Junior shrugged loose” from Hans p.105

9. The Shoulder Shrug • Meaning: • Important that Liesel reads a positive book about Jews before Max arrives • Shows comparison between the approach Hans and Liesel take to life and how Hans Jr. lives it—act on beliefs, don’t just do nothing and show no care

10. Mein Kampf • Arrives with Max: Mid-May 1940 at night • “My Struggle” book by Hitler—anti-semetic; spreads his beliefs • Liesel never read it, but showed interest • Saved Max’s lifeheld key, made him look legitimate on the train • Pages were later painted over and used to make new books for Liesel

11. Mein Kampf • Meaning: • Symbolic—physically saved Max, but ideas written in it played a role in endangering him in the first place • It’s transformation in to other books shows that bad ideas can be changed to a newer and better end

12. The Standover Man • Gift: 2 weeks after birthday; from Max • 13 pages long; on the painted over pages of Mein Kampf • Practiced the words and pictures before making real copy • Left in Liesel’s room in the morning • Rosa used her harsh personality to keep Liesel out of the basement during its making • Max and Liesel are beginning to forge a friendship

13. The Standover Man • Meaning: • Gives clues into Max’s past • Shows Max’s initial care and concern for Liesel • Hints at future close friendship between Liesel and Max

14. The Whistler • Stolen: Mayor’s Library; October 1941 • Plot: murder story in Vienna; whistler kills, smiles, and runs away • Had been reading it in Mayor’s library • Offered to her when wife canceled laundry services—Liesel refused • Angry words to wife—image of brother on steps gives picture of pain • Later when Rudy needs win, steals it from library; Rudy leaves shoes • Thrown in river by Viktor • Reads to Max when sick and Frau Holtzapfel after bomb shelter reading

15. The Whistler • Meaning: • dark book for Liesel’s dark feelings; makes an appearance during several frightening events (sickness, bombings, bullies) • Whistler may relate to Pfiffikus

16. The Mud Men • Gift: Liesel’s 12th Birthday; February 1941 • Max doesn’t have anything to give her; he has only arrived recently • Motivates Max to make her a book • Rudy having trouble at Hitler Youth; punished with drills in the mud; needs a win

17. The Mud Men • Meaning: • Shines light on her friend’s troubles • Sympathy for Rudy and focus on trying to get him a win

18. The Dream Carrier • Stolen: Mayor’s library; Early March 1942 • Red book with black writing • Rudy comes with her; they’ve done it before • Sees dead brother on steps with bloody knee • Thinks of loved ones as she steals • Max is still sick and sleeping; she is still going to read to him • Nightmares of Max

19. The Dream Carrier • Meaning: • Worry of Max on her mind and can’t talk about it, even to best friend • Max is dreaming and sleeping • She dreams (nightmares) of him

20. A Song in the Dark • Stolen: Mayor’s library; Late August 1942 • Green book—doesn’t have one of that color; white lettering and flute insignia • Goes alone this time • Right after, Ilsa puts a dictionary in window; “a trap” • Liesel learns she knew all about the stealing • Beginning her air raid shelter readings

21. A Song in the Dark • Meaning: • Another way reading can save someone’s life; calming in a time of crisis • Liesel finally has success in a public reading

22. The Word Shaker • Gift: From Max; Rosa had to judge when best to give it to her; before Christmas 1942 • Was sewn in the mattress—to be given to Liesel when she is ready • “always been ready” • Rosa and Liesel must depend only on each other, without Max and Hans around • All events of life in the novel have been caused by WWII and the Holocaust

23. The Word Shaker • Meaning: • Childlike tale but has deeper meaning • Ways to combat evil powers using their own methods • Links Max and Liesel, again, through words • Power of words, both negative and positive • Reinforces a major theme of the novel

24. The Last Human Stranger • Stolen: Mayor’s library; 2 weeks after Christmas 1942 • Rudy came; there were cookies (stale) • Realizes it’s Ilsa’s own library, not the mayor’s • Alex and Hans are off at war • We know Hans will return from his assignment • Liesel will be sole survivor of Himmel Street bombing

25. The Last Human Stranger • Meaning: • Can be alone or a stranger even with others like you around in your presence • Ex. Soldiers returning from war and others can’t identify with them (Alex and Hans) • Symbolic of Liesel in the aftermath of bombing—all Himmel Street dead, but her