You find nothing to enjoy or pique your interest in liesels story. When i was asked to run a book club for the book thief similar to. His work is translated into more than forty languages, and has spent more than a decade on the new york times bestseller list, establishing zusak as one of the most successful authors to come out of australia. The book thief discussion questions loomis chaffee school.
I was just about to leave when i saw the book thief there clutching a book, her diary. The book thief markus zusak, 2006 random house childrens 576 pp. The book thief questions and answers the question and answer sections of our study guides are a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss literature. These cookies are mentioned in the book when liesel makes a trip. The next book club title, which we will look at in two months time, is the interpretation of murder by american author, jed rubenfeld. The narrative starts on a train in january 1939 travelling to the fictional town of molching, germany. The book thief explore how symbols are used in their daily lives as powerful tools that foster ideas recognize that symbols can represent a reality. Is the death of the mayors son his wifes only reason for silence. Facilitators are invited to participate in the discussion. Max, who has been in hiding, finally, after a journey fraught with the real danger of being discovered, arrives at the hubermann house, and takes refuge there.
A comprehensive guide to this contemporary classic, this discussion aid includes all the information you need to get your book club discussion going. How does death see things that a human narrator might not. She rescues books from nazi bookburnings and steals from the library of the mayor. Expand your study of the book thief by markus zusak with a question for each level of blooms taxonomy. How does max change liesels view of the nazi party. They also participate in before the class discussion a small group discussion of the related materials they read. This lesson offers discussion questions for the book thief by markus zusak. What is the purpose of the pictures in the middle of the book. This website is a novel unit dedicated to the instruction of the book thief. Its january 1939, and ten year old liesel is traveling by train with her mother and her little brother werner. In the opening of the book when liesel steals her first book, the gravediggers handbook, this event can be thought of as the first of many turning. No reading group should be without this companion guide to markus zusaks critically acclaimed bestselling novel, the book thief. The character development in the book thief is truly remarkableliesel and max. Book thief discussion questions galesburg public library.
A number of teachers had commitments so we had a rotating staff for the discussion. She rescues books from nazi book burnings and steals from the library of the mayor. What does the act of book thievery teach liesel about life and death. From hans to liesel to the mayors wife, discuss how some of the characters in the book thief deal with their past. Mar 14, 2006 i saw the movie the book thief several years ago and loved it. Reading guide for the book thief by markus zusak discussion guide for book clubs. Our discussion of the book thief by markus zusak will be held here at. Discussion questions for the book thief by mark zusak.
In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, awardwinning author markus zusak has. Book talk isu presentation on the book thief by markus zuzak. The book is different in several ways, ways in which i. Discuss the symbolism of death as the omniscient narrator of the novel. 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. How did the key come to be in maxs copy of mein kampf.
Both intimate and sweeping, markus zusaks unforgettable novel is set just. The book thief is a story about the power of words to make worlds. There were so many points at which i wished there was someone i could share with in the moment. In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, awardwinning author markus zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time. The book thief by markus zusak book club discussion questions. The book thief topics for discussion markus zusak this study guide consists of approximately 52 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the book thief.
Do you like markus zusaks writing style in this novel. Discussion questions lesson plan is suitable for 7th 12th grade. Explain how liesels own attempt to write a book saves her life. I saw the movie the book thief several years ago and loved it. What is ironic about liesels obsession with stealing books. Explain rudys reaction when he discovers that liesel is a book thief. Murder, prejudice, war, friendship, growing up, poverty, enemies, parents, cultural divides, abandonment, and death. This study guide book thief by markus zusak please click on the literary analysis category you wish to be displayed. The book thief is an extraordinary, heartbreaking book. Death says that he would like to tell the book thief about beauty and brutality, but those are things that she had lived. Although many people loved this book, i hated it with a passion. Summary its just a small story really, about among other things.
In the novel, words have the power to both destroy and save lives. Markus zusak goodreads author topics about this book topics that mention this book. She fell into a depression after the death of her only son in the great war. The book thief takes place in a small town in germany during wwii.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Set against the tragedystained canvas of world war ii, death tells the story of young liesel meminger the eponymous book thief growing up in nazi germany under the watchful eye of a staunch foster mother and kindly foster father who teaches her to read. The book thief book talk by vanessaa rokoszakk on prezi. Although the book is 550 pages long, i read it in just two days it was that good. What prior knowledge of wwii did you bring to your reading of the book thief. Reading guide for the book thief by markus zusak bookbrowse. Some are appropriate for wholeclass discussion, while others are best for small groups. 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. The book thief study questions part 14 flashcards quizlet. Suey is hosting the first discussion post for the book thief readalong. 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. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points, if you have not read the book. Environmental education resources to commemorate earth days 50th anniversary.
Back and next buttons can guide you through all the sections or you can choose to jump from section to section using the links below or the links at the left. How might the story look if it was told from maxs point of view. Debate whether liesel is a substitute for hanss children, who have strayed from the family. In what ways did the novel surprise you or offer a different perspective. Remote work advice from the largest allremote company. The book thief is narrated by death yup, you heard that right who tells us the story of liesel meminger. A variety of activities have been created for this novel to extend student analysis and comprehension of the many nuances and complexities found throughout the pages. The third and last time i saw the book thief, the sky was red and the sirens came too late for the bombs. Death reports that liesel stole her first book on january, 1939, and more than a year passed before she stole her second. The book thief by markus zusak book club discussion. At first i wasnt really sure what to expect and didnt really get the point of this novel. The beginning of this section of the book thief begins with a change of scenery. The location of the meetings can be anywherea religious education classroom, an afterschool program, or a book club. Both intimate and sweeping, markus zusaks unforgettable novel is set just before and during world war ii, among everyday german people living in a munich suburb.
The state of israel gives nonjews who saved jewish lives, or attempted to. This novel is filled with heavy themes from the late 1930s and early 1940s during world war ii. May 06, 2008 please feel free to enter into this discussion by leaving comments below which is after all the main purpose of a book club. Thoughts on the book thief by markus zusak i just i just finished this book and loved it.
The pajiba book club discussion the book thief by markus zusak. Start studying the book thief study questions part 14. Materials newsprint, markers, tape, crayons, and color pencils chalice or ledbatteryoperated candle. If your program has time for it, you might have the group watch the film together.
Or in hans hubermans finding resistance born of an old debt and friendship. Liesel meminger is a young girl who has been placed in foster care by her mother. You are traveling by train for what seems like miles to be handed off to a new foster family. The state of israel gives nonjews who saved jewish lives, or attempted to save jewish lives, the formal recognition of.
Students participate in a class discussion on the book thief and well as a group discussion on the related materials they read. The book thief by markus zusak is a novel of cruelty, poverty, and hope. Discuss how zusaks poetic writing style enhances the beauty of liesels story. Discussing a deeply confrontational book can be difficult. The book thief begins with the introductory narration by death. She also gives liesel a little black book, which leads liesel to write her own story, the book thief. Please feel free to enter into this discussion by leaving comments below which is after all the main purpose of a book club.
Imagine you have traveled back in time to world war iiera germany. The book thief discussion questions nebraska library commission. I couldnt help reading the book thief with our discussion group in mind. What was the authors purpose behind choosing death as a narrator. It was long, and i grew bored of it after the 3 chapter. The book thief discussion questions chicago public library. How does stealing books from the mayors house lead to a friendship with the mayors wife. The discussion guide was an excellent way to jog our memories to important points in. Why is max a significant character, and why is he heading to himmel street. The wife of the mayor of molching who employs rosa hubermann. Sep 18, 20 suey is hosting the first discussion post for the book thief readalong.
The questions are organized by on sensitivity level. The discussion guide was an excellent way to jog our memories to important points in the book that might have been forgotten. Im so glad i finally gave it a chance though, its a great read. Ilsa allows liesel to visit, read and steal books in her personal library. 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.
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