Discussion points for the book thief

The book thief study questions part 5 flashcards quizlet. It has a lighter writing style, clear good guys and clear bad guys, a young protagonist, romantic interests and the big themes and concepts are laid out plain. The book thief major plot points flashcards quizlet. Discussion questions for the book thief by mark zusak. Complete the questions as you read each part of the book. Book summary the majority of the novel takes place in the fictional town of molching, germany, near munich, between 1939 and 1943.

Zusak has said that much of the inspiration for the book thief came from the stories his parents would tell him when he was a child zusaks father, a house painter, was an austrian. This novel is filled with heavy themes from the late 1930s and early 1940s during world war ii. Feb 19, 2020 discussing radical candor as a team in a book club can help solidify the ideas and get everyone thinking about how to start applying them to your daytoday behaviors weve put together this list of radical candor book club questions to get you started with the discussions for each chapter, but wed love to hear your ideas as well. Be sure to discuss each question before writing down your ideas. Ask and answer questions about the novel or view study guides, literature essays and more. I have also finished reading the entire book at this time, so my responses may be influenced by events that happen after part 3 of the novel. The state of israel gives nonjews who saved jewish lives, or attempted to. But the movie about a girl adopted by a german couple during world war ii also crystallizes the perils of. The book thief by markus zusak discussion question. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Nov 14, 20 the book thief has its moments of brilliance, thanks in large part to an adept cast. This is the kind of book which demands quite a few rereadings and i have discovered a number of microscopic details after each read.

Liesel moves to australia and grows to be an old woman with a family. Once students have read the book thief in its entirety, it is important to ensure that they have grasped key points. Talk about each major character and what their turning points are, as well as turning points for the community as a whole. Narrated by death, the book thief is the story of liesel meminger, a nineyearold german girl who given up by her mother to live with hans and rosa hubermann in the small town of molching in 1939, shortly before world war ii. What is the effect of having death serve as the narrator.

The book thief is the fourth novel by author markus zusak. Explain rudys reaction when he discovers that liesel is a book thief. Markus zusak began his career as a successful writer of young adult fiction, but for his fifth novel, zusak set out to relate the experiences of his parents growing up during world war ii for an adult audience. Many books have reading guides at the end of the book that are perfect to use for your book club. Hinton and rumple fish won the 2006 printz honor for excellence in young adult. I put off reading the book thief for a long time because i assumed it would be the same predictable plot as many other books about the holocaust and i wanted something new. She rescues books from nazi book burnings and steals from the library of the mayor. Markus zusaks the book thief, set in germany during world war ii, follows young liesel meminger as she struggles with the loss of her mother and brother and must go to live with foster parents, hans and rosa hubermann. Compare the book thief to other books written about world war ii. Materials chalice or ledbatteryoperated candle lined paper and pens or pencils preparation if your meeting takes place in a space that is. Discussing a deeply confrontational book can be difficult. Highly recommendable for literature and history buffs alike, this is a timeless tale which is masterfully told.

The questions are organized by on sensitivity level. The book thief is a poignant and powerful tale a young girl named liesel growing up in nazi germany. This lesson offers discussion questions for the book thief by markus zusak. Liesel meminger is a young girl who has been placed in foster care by her mother.

The book thief group discussion passage analysis name. The book thief write of a time when they used storytelling or words to comfort, support, or encourage someone in their life. Death states, im always finding humans at their best and worst. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points, if you have not read the book. Get free homework help on markus zusaks the book thief. Discussion points and guiding questions for the book thief. The book thief by markus zusak book club discussion.

Humanity and dehumanization the dehumanization of the jews was an early stage of the holocaust. The book thief by markus zusak is a novel of cruelty, poverty, and hope. The discussion guide was an excellent way to jog our memories to important points in the book that might have been forgotten. Liesel goes home with ilsa hermann and is later reunited with max. The book thief discussion questions chicago public library. The next time he saw her was when he came for a pilot who had crashed his plane. What is the relationship of each color to the memory described. The book thief is narrated by death yup, you heard that right who tells us the story of liesel meminger. The book thief has its moments of brilliance, thanks in large part to an adept cast. The first time he saw the book thief, he says, was on a train.

The book thief by markus zusak discussion questions. She rescues books from nazi bookburnings and steals from the library of the mayor. General book club questions for study and discussion. This is liesels life on himmel street, told from deaths point of view. The discussion guide was an excellent way to jog our memories to important points in. Start studying the book thief study questions part 5. Death comes for her soul and shows her the book thief, and tells her that humans haunt him. As a member or leader of a book club, you are likely to be reading books on a wide variety of topics, both fiction and nonfiction. Reading guide for the book thief by markus zusak bookbrowse. Rudy wins the next two races, but he gets disqualified from. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on the book thief by markus zusak. The book thief by markus zusak reading guidebook club. No matter the genre, age, notoriety, or length of the book of the moment, book club questions can kickstart or enhance your group discussion. I see their ugly and their beauty, and i wonder how the same thing can be both.

It is a dark book but it is very much readable by older kids. The state of israel gives nonjews who saved jewish lives, or attempted to save jewish lives, the formal recognition of. When you choose a popular book club book, you can often find a wealth of book discussion questions already written for you. The book thief markus zusak, 2006 random house childrens 576 pp. The book thief by markus zusak book club discussion questions. What does the act of book thievery teach liesel about life and death. Mar 14, 2006 during the years that liesel lives with the hubermanns, hitler becomes more powerful, life on himmel street becomes more fearful, and liesel becomes a fullfledged book thief. Markus zusak goodreads author topics about this book topics that mention this book. The book thief discussion questions nebraska library commission. From hans to liesel to the mayors wife, discuss how some of the characters in the book thief deal with their past.

Markus zusak is the author of five books, including the international bestseller, the book thief, which spent more than a decade on the new york times bestseller list, and is translated into more than forty languages establishing zusak as one of the most successful authors to come out of australia. Because this novel is written from the point of view of the germans, readers may find themselves sympathizing with characters that were historically on the other side. How might the story look if it was told from maxs point of view. Explain how liesels own attempt to write a book saves her life. Discuss the symbolism of death as the omniscient narrator of the novel. Before you dive into the heavy plot points, character development, themes, or other weighty subjects, start off your book club discussion by finding out everyones first impression of the book, advises sadie trombetta, via bustle. Doing so, and starting slowly, will give you a jumpingoff point to discuss what about the selection kept you turning the pages, she says, or what made the book. Do you like markus zusaks writing style in this novel. Like the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime, which was initially targeted at young adults in britain but to adults in the usa, the book thief is one of those rare books that really does speak to both young and old alike. No book group should be without this companion guide to markus zusaks bestselling novel, the book thief. Markus zusak was born in australia grew up listening to his mothers stories about nazi germany fascinated with stories of the bombing of munich and jews inspired by the outsiders by s. There were so many points at which i wished there was someone i could share with in the moment. Written to bridge the gap between overly academic study guides and some of the inaccurate web information available, the companion guides are thoroughly researched but written in. The novel gives a unique perspective on world war ii by telling the story from the nonjews of germany who remained in their country during the war.

Book thief discussion questions galesburg public library. What are your thoughts on the identity of the narrator. The book thief part five summary and analysis gradesaver. Its january 1939, and ten year old liesel is traveling by train with her mother and her little brother werner. What role do books play for liesel, hans, max, and in the novel as a whole. How will this particular narrator affect the telling of the story. Materials chalice or ledbatteryoperated candle lined paper and pens or pencils preparation if your meeting takes place in a space that is suitable for small group discussion, create. Includes pacing guide, prereading, film essay, activities, reading quizzes, posters, and discussions. The book thief summary from litcharts the creators of. Set in germany in the years 19391943, the book thief tells the story of liesel, narrated by death who has in his possession the book she wrote about these years. The book thief book discussion goodreads share book. In a time when literature came under suspicion if it was not supportive of the nazi. How does stealing books from the mayors house lead to a friendship with the mayors wife. The book thief the reading room book group notes ebook.

Death narrates the story of liesel meminger, beginning when she is nine years old and suffering from the death of her brother and separation from her mother. Death points out that rudy is now both talented at school and athletics. The book thief is an extraordinary, heartbreaking book. The book thief study guide contains a biography of markus zusak, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Readers of the book thief may be familiar with fictionalized and nonfiction accounts of world war ii from the viewpoint of the allies or of european jews who were forced into hiding during the conflict. During the years that liesel lives with the hubermanns, hitler becomes more powerful, life on himmel street becomes more fearful, and liesel becomes a fullfledged book thief. The question and answer section for the book thief is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Murder, prejudice, war, friendship, growing up, poverty, enemies, parents, cultural divides, abandonment, and death.

I couldnt help reading the book thief with our discussion group in mind. Death introduces himself as the narrator of the novel. Discussion questions book club recommendationsdiscussion. Discussing radical candor as a team in a book club can help solidify the ideas and get everyone thinking about how to start applying them to your daytoday behaviors weve put together this list of radical candor book club questions to get you started with the discussions for each chapter, but wed love to hear your ideas as well part 1. The reading room book group guides are designed to help you get the absolute best from your book club meetings. What details from the text gave hints about the identity. Suey is hosting the first discussion post for the book thief readalong.