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The Sleeper

A sign of definite intelligence - The Vox Book Club (The Spokesman-Review)
A sign of definite intelligence - The Vox Book Club (The Spokesman-Review)

Here's the back half of Part 4 for discussion of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak! Enjoy throughout the Big Bad Blog-A-Thon.....

The Sleeper

  • In this first section Liesel realizes that a) Max shares her nightmares, and b) It has become somewhat of an 'obsession' to watch and look over him - to care for him. Do you think these shared nightmares are the reason for the strong bond between Liesel and Max?
  • There is truth in Liesel's reply to Mama's tear soaked words; "Everything was good. But it was awful, too."  Do these words apply to your life, or to the collective life of our generation vs. 'the times' we grow up in?

The Swapping of Nightmares

  • Max is appalled at his own allowence having slept in Liesel's room, saying "he was a Jew, and if there was one place he was destined to exist, it was a basement."  How does this show how the inner relationship Max has with himself? Has the Furher gotten into his head?
  • What do you think about Death's description of how it feels to hide a Jew?; "Imagine smiling after a slap in the face. Then think of doing it 24 hours a day."

Pages from the Basement

  • This chapter consists mainly of The Standover Man. Which page, or part of Max's work had the greatest effect on you? Which was your favorite?
  • How would you feel about this book if you were Liesel?




 

In 2006, then-editor Steve Smith of The Spokesman-Review had the idea of starting a publication for an often forgotten audience: teenagers. The Vox Box was a continuation of the Vox, an all-student staffed newspaper published by The Spokesman-Review. High school student journalists who staffed the Vox made all content decisions as they learn about the trade of journalism. This blog's mission was to give students an opportunity to publish their voices. The Vox Box and the Vox wrapped up in June 2009, but you can follow former staffers' new blog at http://voxxiez.blogspot.com.