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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
