Thursday, December 2, 2010

"There would be punishment and pain, and there would be happiness too. That was writing" (Zusak 525).


Blog #12 (due 12/9):
Pick your favorite character from The Book Thief and summarize what happens to him or her at the end of the book.  Were you happy with that character's ending?  Why or why not?


Be creative and write an alternative ending to your character's story in a 250-word response based on our reading of The Book Thief pg. 497-550.  Please use two quotes from the book using proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The Word Shaker

Blog #11 (due 11/11):
Select one of the following discussion questions and write a 250-word response based on our reading of The Book Thief pg. 407-493.

1.  What happens to Rudy and his family in the section "Dominoes and Darkness?"  Were the Nazis telling the truth about the school they wanted Rudy to go to?  How did Rudy's father react?  Do you agree or disagree with Alex Steiner?  What happens to him as a result?  Have you ever gotten in trouble for standing up for something you believe in?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

2.  What happens to Hans Hubermann in the section "Punishment?"  Why did the NSDAP finally accept Hans Hubermann into the Nazi party?  What happens after Papa is accepted into the party?  How does Papa react to being drafted into the German army?  What does Mama do to Papa as a result?  Have you ever gotten in trouble for standing up for something you believe in?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

3.  What happens in the section "The Hidden Sketchbook?"  What does Rosa give to Liesel and what is its significance?  What message does Max want Liesel to take away from the story "The Word Shaker?"  What kind of tree do Liesel and Max climb in the story?  If you had a seed to plant a special kind of tree in the world, what kind would it be and why?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

4.  What happens in the sections "The Cardplayer" and "The Accident?"  Who is Reinhold Zucker and how does he save Hans Hubermann's life?  How do the soldiers react after the car accident?  How has war changed the way that the soldiers react to death?  Are we desensitized to violence in our world?  Why or why not?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

5.  Who is Michael Holtzapfel?  What news does he have for his mother and how does Liesel help?  What happens to Michael and Frau Holtzapfel in the section "One Toolbox, One Bleeder, One Bear?"  Why is Michael upset in the Fiedlers' basement?  Have you ever had to leave someone behind?  How did you feel?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

6.  What does Rudy do at the end of the section "One Toolbox, One Bleeder, One Bear" and why?  How does Death describe Rudy and Liesel?  How does Death describe the human heart?  What does compassion mean to you?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The Sky Stealer

Blog #10 (due 10/28):
Select one of the following discussion questions and write a 250-word response based on our reading of The Book Thief pg. 371-411.


1.  Describe what happens in the section "The Sound of Sirens?"  What does Max do?  Why did the family decide that Max should not go with them to the Fiedler's shelter?  Is this a fair solution?  Have you ever experienced something in life that you felt was unfair?  How did it make you feel?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

2.  What does Max do while the Liesel and the Hubermanns are at the Fiedlers' air raid shelter?  How do the Hubermann's react and why do they react the way they do?  What sets fire to Max's eyes?  What is "the real basement?"  Have you ever taken anything for granted in your life and then been separated from it for a long time?  How did you feel when you were reunited with that person or thing?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

3.  What does Liesel do during the second air raid on September 19?  How does it help the people in the air raid shelter?  What does Frau Holtzapfel ask Liesel to do after the air raid?  Has Frau Holtzapfel changed since the start of the book?  Have you ever had to comfort someone who was scared?  What did you do or say to help?  Did your relationship with that person change afterward?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

4.  Describe what happens in the section "The Long Walk to Dachau."  How does Hans Hubermann react to seeing the parade of Jews on Munich Street?  What happens to Max as a result of Papa's reaction?  How does this make Liesel feel?  Have you ever experienced something in life that you felt was unfair?  How did it make you feel?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

The Summer of 1942 in Nazi Germany

Blog #9 (due 10/21):
Select one of the following discussion questions and write a 250-word response based on our reading of The Book Thief pg. 349-370.


1.  In the section, "Death's Diary:  The Parisians," Death describes what it was like in the concentration camps.  Why does he say, "the sky was the color of Jews" (Zusak 349)?  How does Death describe what happened to the Jews in those camps?  Is his description surprising?  Why does Death think he "saved" the Jews?  Do you think death was preferable to life in the camps?  Why or why not?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

2.  In the summer, Liesel begins to write her own life story and she also accompanies Papa on many of his painting jobs.  How does Liesel describe this summer?  How did Papa get paid for his painting jobs?  Describe the first time Liesel drinks champagne.  Why is it so special?  Describe an ordinary day in your life that turned into a special memory.  Who were you with? Are there any sights, smells or tastes that stand out to you about that day?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

3.  Describe Rudy's experience at Hitler Youth this summer.  How have things changed?  How has Rudy changed?  Rudy sets a goal to win four gold medals, just like his idol Jesse Owens did.  Does he end up reaching his goal?  Why or why not?  What is an important goal that you have set for yourself?  What are the steps you are taking to reach that goal?  Do you ever find yourself wanting to give up on your goal?  What do you do to keep yourself from giving up? Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

The Floating Book

Blog #8 (due 10/14):
Select one of the following discussion questions and write a 250-word response based on our reading of The Book Thief pg. 282-370.


1.  What is "The Floating Book" (Zusak 300)?  Why is it so important to Liesel and how does Rudy show his loyalty as a friend to Liesel when he rescues the book for her?  Is their friendship changing now that they are getting older?  Describe a time that you have sacrificed for a friend or shown loyalty to someone you love.  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.


2.  What happens to Max in this section of the book?  What presents does Liesel bring to Max and what is their significance?  How does Liesel show loyalty to Max?  Describe a time that you have shown loyalty to someone you love or write about a very special gift that you gave to someone you love.  How did it make you feel?  How did it affect your relationship?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

3.  What were the longest three minutes in Hubermann history?  How did Liesel warn her family about the Nazis visiting all of the homes in Molching?  Why were the Nazis doing so?  How did Liesel and her family cope when the Nazis came to inspect their basement as a possible air raid shelter?  Describe a scary time in your life or a time that you had to act bravely.  Have you ever had to make an important decision to keep your loved ones safe?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Max's Life Story

Blog #7 (due 10/7):
Write a 250-word response based on our reading of The Book Thief pg. 243-281.


Part One:  In this section of the book, Max decides to use the remaining pages of Mein Kamp to write his own life story.  Liesel looks through what Max has written while he is sleeping one day and is scared by what she sees.  What has Max been writing about and what is the significance of his sketches?  Why is Liesel frightened?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

Part Two:  Write a short story about your own life.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Standover Man

Blog #6 (due 9/30):
Write a 250-word response based on our reading of The Book Thief pg. 199-242.

Compare and contrast the lives of Liesel and Max Vandenburg.  How does Max’s life give Liesel purpose?  At what point do Liesel and Max become friends?  Max and Liesel both have nightmares about their past and suffer from survivor's guilt.  Can you relate to the way they feel?  Why or why not?  Max does not have any money and cannot go shopping, but he still manages to give Leisel a birthday gift.  He gives Liesel a story called “The Standover Man."  What is the significance of this story?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.



Click here to read more about "The Standover Man" from an interview with Markus Zusak.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

The Struggler

Blog #5 (due 9/23): 
Select one of the following discussion questions and write a 250-word response based on our reading of The Book Thief pg. 154-198.

1.  Who is Walter Kugler?  How did Max and Walter meet?  Describe Max Vandenburg's experience in the dark storeroom.  How does Walter help him?  How long has does Max have to stay in the storeroom and what does he do before he leaves?  Why?  This is a very scary time for Max; can you relate to him at all?  Have you ever been in a scary situation?  How did you react?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.


2.  Discuss the irony of the book that Max Vandenburg reads on the train.  How is Max feeling on the train and why?  Have you ever tried to convince others that you are someone that you are not?  If so, how did you feel?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.


3.  Who are Arthur Berg and Otto Sturm?  How are Liesel and Rudy involved with both of these young men?  Think about Arthur's quote, "We might be criminals, but we're not totally immoral" (163).  Is it possible for people to be both bad and good at the same time?  Why or why not?  Can you relate to Liesel, Rudy and the gang of young thieves at all?  Why or why not?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.


4.  Why does Max ask Papa if he still plays the accordion (173)?  Why does Max come to stay at the Hubermann's?  Describe Hans Hubermann's experience as a soldier in World War I.  What does Death say about war?  Was Papa lucky to survive WWI?  Why or why not?   Do you consider yourself to be a lucky person?  Why or why not?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.


5.  What is the NSDAP and why didn't Hans Hubermann join?  Why did Papa's painting business fall "slightly awry" when Hitler rose to power in 1933 (180)?  Who is Herbert Bollinger and what does he tell Papa?  Why does Papa apply to join the party in 1937 and what happens?  What happens towards the end of 1938?  What is Kristallnacht?  Have you ever stood up against something that you thought was unfair?  What happened?  What does equality mean to you?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.


6.  Discuss the theme of loyalty in The Book Thief pg. 154-198.  What happens when the Nazis come to Max's family's house?  Who shows up?  How does Max react?  Does Max look back when he leaves his family?  How does Max feel leaving his loved ones behind to ensure his own personal safety?  Have you ever had to make a difficult choice like that?  Have you ever had to leave your loved ones behind to do what was best for you?  How do Hans and Rosa react when Max arrives at their home?  Are they being loyal to the promise that Hans made to Eric Vandenburg's widow?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

Monday, September 13, 2010

The Heavyweight Champion of the School-Yard

Blog #4 (due 9/16): 
Select one of the following discussion questions and write a 250-word response based on our reading of The Book Thief pg. 108-153.

1.  Describe what happens at school when Sister Maria asks the children to read.  How does Liesel react?  How does Liesel express her anger and frustration?  How does Liesel demonstrate perseverance?  Have you ever had a similar experience at school?  How can we learn from our own challenges in the classroom?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.


2.  Describe the second time Liesel steals a book.  Is Liesel acting bravely or dangerously?  If you were a ‘Book Thief’, which book do you love enough to go to extraordinary lengths to secure?   Alternatively, what do you hold dear? What is it, and what would you be prepared to do in order to ensure its safety and safekeeping?   Also, to what lengths would you go to save or rescue something of value to your best friend?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.


3.  Describe Liesel & Papa's conversation on the church steps after the Nazi book-burning.  What is the significance of Liesel's realization about her mother?  How does Papa react when Liesel says she "hates the Fuhrer" (115)?  Compare this moment in the book to what Papa does for Liesel on Christmas.  How does Papa show leadership and sacrifice?  How can we apply these qualities in our own lives?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.


4.  Some of us are born with an innate sense of the love of books and reading, while for some it grows and strengthens as we mature.  Describe the first time Liesel sees the Mayor's Library.  How does Liesel react to seeing all of the books?  Have you ever felt inspired to learn or try something new before?  Back up your opinion with two quotes from the book and be sure to use proper MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

A Mountain Range of Rubble & The Grave Digger's Handbook

Blog #3 (due 9/9):  
Select one of the following discussion questions and write a 250-word response based on our reading of The Book Thief pg. 3-107.

1.  What is the effect of having Death serve as the narrator?  What feelings/emotions do you associate with Death and why?

2. In the very beginning of the novel, Death explains that when he comes to carry away a soul, he tries to see colors first and then the people (4). Because he has such a hard time looking at the humans who are left behind, the survivors, Death tries to distract himself by noticing the color of the sky. In this way, he does not have to notice the people who scare him. Since he cannot take a real vacation, - "Who could step in while I take a break...?" - Death must "...vacation in increments. In colors" (5).  Because colors are so important in helping Death cope with his job, he associates each person's death with the color of the sky at the time he comes for the soul. Therefore, when Death describes the three times that he sees Liesel, he associates a color with each incident.  Is there a significant day in your life that you associate with a color or colors?  Describe that day and the significance of the color/s you associate with it.

3.  Liesel believes that Hans Hubermann's eyes show kindness, and from the beginning she feels closer to him than to Rosa Hubermann. How does Hans gain Liesel's love and trust? 

4.  Abandonment is a central theme in the novel. The reader knows that Liesel feels abandoned by her mother and by the death of her brother.  Debate whether she was abandoned by circumstance or by the heart.  Have you ever experienced abandonment?

5.  The Grave Digger’s Handbook is the first book Liesel steals.  Discuss why she hides The Grave Digger’s Handbook under her mattress.  What is the significance of the book to Liesel?  Why is it ironic that Liesel steals books?  Describe Hans Hubermann’s reaction when he discovers the book. 

6.  Describe Liesel and Rudy's friendship in Part One.  How does Rudy help Liesel adjust to her new life on Himmel Street?  Do you have any childhood friends like Rudy?  What does it mean to have a best friend or to be a best friend?  How does friendship change as we get older?

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Holocaust Survivor Stories

"Beginning in March 1942, a wave of mass murder swept across Europe. During the next 11 months 4,500,000 human beings were eliminated. By the end of World War II the toll had risen to approximately 6,000,000 Jews, which included 1,500,000 children, who perished at the hands of the Nazi murderers. When the killing ended those who survived were released from the concentration camps and came out of hiding" (holocaustsurvivors.org).  
Identification Cards from the U.S. Holocaust Museum

Blog #2 (due 9/2):
Visit the three websites from the links above and select one of the stories of survival that really made an impact on you.  Reflect on what you already know about the Holocaust and what more you learned through this survivor's story.  Think about a difficult time in your life--can you relate to messages of the Holocaust survivors?  Write 250 words about what it means to be a survivor.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

When his family moves from their home in Berlin to a strange new house in Poland, young Bruno (Asa Butterfield) befriends Shmuel (Jack Scanlon), a boy who lives on the other side of the fence, where everyone seems to be wearing striped pajamas. Unaware of Shmuel's fate as a Jewish prisoner or the role his own Nazi father plays in his imprisonment, Bruno embarks on a dangerous journey inside the camp's walls.

Watch The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and reflect on what you know about World War II.  There are many topics in The Book Thief which call for the reader to have background knowledge of this period in our global history.  

Blog #1 (due 8/31):
Listed below are topics related to World War II.  Pick one that you are the least familiar with and search for it online.  After you have done some reading on your selected topic, write 250 words about how this changes your understanding of what was happening in Europe during World War II.

Topics:

The Book Thief

Liesel Meminger is only nine years old when she is taken to live with the Hubermanns, a foster family, on Himmel Street in Molching, Germany, in the late 1930s. She arrives with few possessions, but among them is The Grave Digger’s Handbook, a book that she stole from her brother’s burial place. During the years that Liesel lives with the Hubermanns, Hitler becomes more powerful, life on Himmel Street becomes more fearful, and Liesel becomes a full-fledged book thief. She rescues books from Nazi book-burnings and steals from the library of the mayor. Liesel is illiterate when she steals her first book, but Hans Hubermann uses her prized books to teach her to read. This is a story of courage, friendship, love, survival, death, and grief. This is Liesel’s life on Himmel Street, told from Death’s point of view. 

Who is Markus Zusak?

Australian author Markus Zusak grew up hearing stories about Nazi Germany, about the bombing of Munich and about Jews being marched through his mother’s small, German town. He always knew it was a story he wanted to tell.

At the age of 30, Zusak has already asserted himself as one of today’s most innovative and poetic novelists. With the publication of The Book Thief, he is now being dubbed a ‘literary phenomenon’ by Australian and U.S. critics. Zusak is the award-winning author of four previous books for young adults: The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, Getting the Girl, and I Am the Messenger, recipient of a 2006 Printz Honor for excellence in young adult literature. He lives in Sydney, Australia with his wife and young daughter.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog on The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.  

I will be posting to this blog throughout the Fall 2010 semester as the Language Arts Instructor for Gateway to College at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). Check out DMACC's library resources on the Holocaust and The Book Thief for more information:
   

Please leave me your feedback on the topics we will be exploring this semester as we read this remarkable novel.