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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. Which of the following mysterious characters is described as living in the dark shadows of Stuttgart?

2. How does the reader know Liesel's brother is sick?

3. To which German city is Liesel being relocated by the foster care system?

4. Which of the following adjectives best describes Rosa Hubermann?

5. Upon arriving safely to the Hubermann household, how long does Max sleep, uninterrupted?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Hans treat Liesel during the first few weeks she is at his home?

2. How do Hans and Rosa react when Liesel asks for permission to write letters home to her mother?

3. How does Liesel celebrate her first Christmas with Hans and Rosa?

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

5. Why is the relationship between Hans and Hans Jr. strained?

6. Where does Rosa get the idea to send Liesel on all of her sales calls for the laundry business?

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

8. How does Max escape from Stuttgard after the war breaks out?

9. Who was Erik Vandenberg?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the ways the Nazi soldiers sought to humiliate their Jewish prisoners was to march them in parades through the cities. First, explain what message the Nazis were sending to the villagers with the parades. From the Nazis' point of view, were the parades successful? Why or why not? Finally, explain the various reactions villagers, like Hans and Liesel, had to seeing the prisoners being paraded through their streets.

Essay Topic 2

Liesel's journey into adulthood can be traced through the books she reads. Choose at least three titles Liesel reads throughout the course of the novel and explain what Liesel learned from each of these texts. Then, explain how the books Liesel reads can trace her growth into adulthood using the three books you've selected as primary examples.

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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