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How can I better understand Part Two of The Book Thief?

Part Two of The Book Thieftruly cements the meaning behind the title. I can understand why it is difficult to understand this part because, just like in many parts of this book, Death does not tell his tale chronologically. First, Death tells us what happens at the end of Part Two: Liesel steals a book set on fire by the Nazis. Death then returns to events before the Christmas holidays in order to tell...

Part Two of The Book Thief truly cements the meaning behind the title. I can understand why it is difficult to understand this part because, just like in many parts of this book, Death does not tell his tale chronologically. First, Death tells us what happens at the end of Part Two: Liesel steals a book set on fire by the Nazis. Death then returns to events before the Christmas holidays in order to tell the story in full.


Hans continues to teach Liesel to read and gives Liesel two more books for Christmas: Faust the Dog and The Lighthouse. Unfortunately, things get a bit harder for the Hubermanns after the Christmas holidays. Money is tight. Rosa loses most of her clients in the area because people can no longer afford for someone else to do their laundry. At the same time, Liesel grows lonely for her mother. Hans is so upset by Liesel’s sadness about her mother that he forges a letter.


Things get fairly grim as Hitler’s birthday approaches. The Hubermanns cannot find their flag. Hans worries this will be enough to place him under arrest. Soldiers patrol the streets. The Hubermanns' son arrives and accuses Hans of never supporting the Nazis. Liesel finally attends a Hitler Youth meeting, but is disgusted when she realizes that it is Hitler that may have made her lose her own mother. Liesel witnesses a book-burning ceremony by the Nazis and sees a book left almost untouched in the ashes. Leisel steals this book, which is called The Shoulder Shrug.

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