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. Sep 01, 2005 this is a book to treasure, a new classic. 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. She rescues books from nazi bookburnings and steals from the library of the mayor. Reading guide for the book thief by markus zusak bookbrowse. The book thief book discussion goodreads share book. Start studying the book thief study questions part 5.
What is the effect of having death serve as the narrator. 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. 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. Discuss the symbolism of death as the omniscient narrator of the novel. The state of israel gives nonjews who saved jewish lives, or attempted to save jewish lives, the formal recognition of.
This novel is filled with heavy themes from the late 1930s and early 1940s during world war ii. The book thief major plot points flashcards quizlet. The book thief summary from litcharts the creators of. What role do books play for liesel, hans, max, and in the novel as a whole. Highly recommendable for literature and history buffs alike, this is a timeless tale which is masterfully told. Subject english language arts, literature, writing, reading strategies the book thief resource type worksheets, lesson plans bundled, unit plans product description 5 weeks of lesson plans. What choices do characters make about groups they will belong to. 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. 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. Hitler vilified the jews, progressively stripped them of. It is a dark book but it is very much readable by older kids.
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. This lesson offers discussion questions for the book thief by markus zusak. Book summary the majority of the novel takes place in the fictional town of molching, germany, near munich, between 1939 and 1943. Death points out that rudy is now both talented at school and athletics. The discussion guide was an excellent way to jog our memories to important points in.
Complete the questions as you read each part of the book. 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. 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. There were so many points at which i wished there was someone i could share with in the moment. The book thief by markus zusak is a novel of cruelty, poverty, and hope. No matter the genre, age, notoriety, or length of the book of the moment, book club questions can kickstart or enhance your group discussion.
The book thief discussion questions chicago public library. The discussion guide was an excellent way to jog our memories to important points in the book that might have been forgotten. How does stealing books from the mayors house lead to a friendship with the mayors wife. 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. The book thief write of a time when they used storytelling or words to comfort, support, or encourage someone in their life. Explain how liesels own attempt to write a book saves her life.
What are your thoughts on the identity of the narrator. Death states, im always finding humans at their best and worst. The book thief has its moments of brilliance, thanks in large part to an adept cast. In a time when literature came under suspicion if it was not supportive of the nazi. This is the kind of book which demands quite a few rereadings and i have discovered a number of microscopic details after each read. Includes pacing guide, prereading, film essay, activities, reading quizzes, posters, and discussions. 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 discussion questions nebraska library commission.
Death introduces himself as the narrator of the novel. When you choose a popular book club book, you can often find a wealth of book discussion questions already written for you. Compare the book thief to other books written about world war ii. The reading room book group guides are designed to help you get the absolute best from your book club meetings. The book thief by markus zusak book club discussion questions. Liesel goes home with ilsa hermann and is later reunited with max. How will this particular narrator affect the telling of the story. The book thief by markus zusak discussion question. 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. I see their ugly and their beauty, and i wonder how the same thing can be both. 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.
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. General book club questions for study and discussion. The book thief study guide contains a biography of markus zusak, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. This bundle has everything you need to get started teaching reading in an engaging way. Get free homework help on markus zusaks the book thief. The book thief is narrated by death yup, you heard that right who tells us the story of liesel meminger. Oftentimes characters are unable to make choices for themselves. Its january 1939, and ten year old liesel is traveling by train with her mother and her little brother werner. Discussion questions for the book thief by mark zusak. 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. Liesel moves to australia and grows to be an old woman with a family. The book thief markus zusak, 2006 random house childrens 576 pp. Discussing a deeply confrontational book can be difficult.
This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on the book thief by markus zusak. How might the story look if it was told from maxs point of view. This is liesels life on himmel street, told from deaths point of view. The book thief the reading room book group notes ebook. The book thief by markus zusak reading guidebook club. Many books have reading guides at the end of the book that are perfect to use for your book club. What does the act of book thievery teach liesel about life and death. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points, if you have not read the book.
Ask and answer questions about the novel or view study guides, literature essays and more. 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. Liesel meminger is a young girl who has been placed in foster care by her mother. 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. The book thief is a poignant and powerful tale a young girl named liesel growing up in nazi germany. But the movie about a girl adopted by a german couple during world war ii also crystallizes the perils of. Discussion points and guiding questions for the book thief. Rudy wins the next two races, but he gets disqualified from. 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 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.
What details from the text gave hints about the identity. The book thief part five summary and analysis gradesaver. 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. The question and answer section for the book thief is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Explain rudys reaction when he discovers that liesel is a book thief. Materials chalice or ledbatteryoperated candle lined paper and pens or pencils preparation if your meeting takes place in a space that is. 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. The first time he saw the book thief, he says, was on a train.
Nov 14, 20 the book thief has its moments of brilliance, thanks in large part to an adept cast. The book thief is an extraordinary, heartbreaking book. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. 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. Suey is hosting the first discussion post for the book thief readalong. 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. 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. Markus zusak goodreads author topics about this book topics that mention this book.
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. Book thief discussion questions galesburg public library. No book group should be without this companion guide to markus zusaks bestselling novel, the book thief. What is the relationship of each color to the memory described. Death comes for her soul and shows her the book thief, and tells her that humans haunt him. The book thief is the tale of a young orphan named liesel and the people who love her in a small german town just before and during wwii. Be sure to discuss each question before writing down your ideas. Im so glad i finally gave it a chance though, its a great read. The book thief by markus zusak discussion questions. She rescues books from nazi book burnings and steals from the library of the mayor.
The next time he saw her was when he came for a pilot who had crashed his plane. Discussion questions book club recommendationsdiscussion. I couldnt help reading the book thief with our discussion group in mind. The book thief by markus zusak book club discussion. Hinton and rumple fish won the 2006 printz honor for excellence in young adult. Humanity and dehumanization the dehumanization of the jews was an early stage of the holocaust. Murder, prejudice, war, friendship, growing up, poverty, enemies, parents, cultural divides, abandonment, and death. The book thief group discussion passage analysis name. The questions are organized by on sensitivity level. The state of israel gives nonjews who saved jewish lives, or attempted to. The book thief study questions part 5 flashcards quizlet. 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. Do you like markus zusaks writing style in this novel.
1101 1136 1577 1157 119 701 1044 761 790 98 1083 1622 250 508 676 594 1100 1323 201 421 367 483 794 1300 694 686 221 1504 814 216 691 488 1285 1276 619 602 982 1313 370 722 805 1147 533 950 465