Book Thief Sparknotes

Plot Summary for The Book Thief The book starts with Death introducing himself as the narrator. He tells us that he has seen the book thief three times but has been infatuated with her story. Death says he associates each sighting of the book thief with colors: white, red, and black, the colors of the Nazi flag. Liesel Meminger, the book thief, is traveling with her mother and brother on a train to Munich. Liesel’s brother abruptly dies on the train and the train attendants stop the train so Liesel and her mother can get off and bury the body. Liesel spots a black book, The Gravedigger’s Handbook, in the snow after the burial and picks it up. Liesel doesn’t know how to read.

Liesel and her mother finally make it to Molching, their destination,

Now, Erik’s son Max has come to Hans for shelter in a world where Jews are a very dangerous thing to have in your basement. Max comes to bear an extreme amount of guilt for putting the lives of those he has come to love in danger. Rosa Hubermann has been doing laundry for an income and Liesel starts to make deliveries for Rosa. Liesel has to keep bringing news back to her mother of people not being able to afford the laundry services any longer. Ilsa Hermann, the mayor’s wife, is the last person to decline the laundry services.

Ilsa Hermann had seen Liesel steal The Shoulder Shrug from the stack of burning books. She had invited Liesel into her study while Rosa had been doing their laundry. Liesel is quick to stop the visits after Frau Hermann stops the laundry services. Liesel, however, hasn’t given up the books completely. With Rudy’s help, Liesel begins stealing books from Frau Hermann’s study.

Christmas of 1940 is an eventful one. Liesel builds Max a snowman in the basement. Shortly after that, Max falls ill and then into a coma. Rosa and Hans begin to worry about what will happen if Max dies. Liesel begins reading to Max religiously and brings him ‘gifts’ to describe the days without