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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What event does the city stage in celebration of the Fuehrer's birthday?

2. How does Rosa feel about Liesel writing letters to her mother?

3. How many fights did Max Vandenberg get in with his nemesis, Walter Kugler?

4. How are Liesel and her brother traveling to the foster care system?

5. What object does Liesel regularly fish out of the trash bins to bring home to Max?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Liesel manage to get a hold of a copy of the book "The Shoulder Shrug"?

2. How do the Hubermann and Steiner families stretch the food they have during the recession so no one goes hungry?

3. Where do Hans and Rosa hide Max in their house?

4. How do Liesel and Rudy manage to steal a food basket from a church?

5. How does Liesel react when she realizes the mayor's wife saw her steal the book from the bonfire?

6. Who was Erik Vandenberg?

7. What happens to Liesel's younger brother while he is on the train at the opening of the novel?

8. What does Max give to Liesel on her birthday?

9. How did Erik Vandenberg's widow respond when Hans Hubermann came knocking at her door?

10. What are Liesel's first impressions of Rosa and Hans Hubermann?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the ways Liesel finds acceptance after moving to a new school is to join a gang. First, describe the gang Liesel was a part of. Who is the leader? What does the gang fight for? Then, explain how the gang helps Liesel learn how to function within a group. How does this lesson come in handy for Liesel later on in her life?

Essay Topic 2

Adolf Hitler's book "Mein Kampf" is a very important prop in the plot of this novel. First, describe what message Hitler was trying to send to the German people with his book. Then, give at least two examples of scenes in which characters from the novel use "Mein Kampf" as a tool to aid in the fight against Hitler.

Essay Topic 3

Zusak chooses a very interesting narrator in the voice of Death. First, describe at least two scenes in which Death visits with Liesel. What does the reader learn about Death, and Liesel's relationship with him during these interactions? Do you think Death was an effective narrator for this novel? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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