1. Characters
1.1. Rudy S.
1.1.1. Liesel's best friend
1.1.2. Rudy is motivated throughout the novel by his love for Liesel
1.1.3. Dies in an air raid at the end of the novel
1.2. Liesel M.
1.2.1. Protaganist
1.2.2. She learns to read and soon finds comfort in the written word
1.2.3. Liesel learns the power of words to influence humans to act towards both good and evil as she experiences the beauty and the brutality of humanity
1.3. Hans Huberman
1.3.1. An amateur accordion player, Hans is a tall, gentle man with a remarkable amount of integrity and bravery
1.3.2. His compassion sets a strong example for Liesel, who is soothed by his presence
1.3.3. Impulsive kindness ultimately gets him in trouble, and he is conscripted to serve in a dangerous air raid recovery unit
1.3.4. Survives this assignment, but ultimately dies in the air raid that hits Molching at the end of the novel
1.4. Max V.
1.4.1. He comes to befriend Liesel as the two share their respective nightmares
1.4.2. A Jew who hides in Huberman's basement
1.4.3. Wracked with anguish and guilt over leaving his family to save himself