Liesel's Words

Whenever there is an alarm for a bomb annd everyone on Himmel Street crowds together in a bombing shelter, Liesel reads from one of her books to keep everyone calm. I find this an amazing example by Zusak of how powerful words and just a simple action can be. When Liesel first starts reading in the bombing shelter, she is about 12, and for the adults in the basement, who fear for their life, seeing something as normal as a girl sit and read holds them together, and gives them something to focus on besides their fear. As I read this part of the book, I pictured Liesel as the heroine and the center of attention, and it seems that Zusak gives her a beautiful power over the roomfull of frightened Germans. In the most recent reading of TBT, Liesel read to Michael and Frau Holtzafel, although Frau Holtzafel was so distressed that she barely listened. There is so much pain and suffering in the Holtzafel house, that I find it very brave of Liesel to read to the woman who used to spit at Rosa's door everyday. She may be young, but Liesel is forgiving and compassionate, and helps those in need, making her very mature on the inside, more so than many of the adults who live in Molching. Liesel's love for words is also very ineresting. After reading in the bombing shelter, Liesel seems to realize that words can have a good effect, or bad, as seen with the propaganda spread by Hitler. Words, like death, are also timeless, and I find that this connection to the book's narrorater really help bring the two characters together.