book thief

Liesel Meminger

The protagonist; a young girl who becomes a book thief and forms strong bonds with those around her.

Rudy Steiner

Liesel’s best friend and neighbor; known for idolizing Jesse Owens and loves Liesel deeply.

Hans Hubermann

Liesel’s gentle and supportive foster father who teaches her to read and plays the accordion.

Rosa Hubermann

Liesel’s strict but caring foster mother who curses a lot but deeply loves her family.

Max Vandenburg

A Jewish man hidden by the Hubermanns; he shares a close friendship with Liesel.

Ilsa Hermann

The mayor’s wife who allows Liesel to read in her library and gives her blank notebooks to write her story.

Death

The narrator of the novel, fascinated by humans and particularly by Liesel.

Werner Meminger

Liesel’s younger brother who dies early in the book and significantly affects her.

Erik Vandenburg

Max’s father who saved Hans’s life in WWI, prompting Hans to help Max later.

Alex Steiner

Rudy’s father, a tailor, conscripted by the Nazis, which ultimately saves his life.

Frau Holtzapfel

A neighbor who feuds with Rosa but seeks comfort from Liesel through reading.

Reinhold Zucker

A soldier who unintentionally saves Hans's life by switching seats with him on a truck.

The Grave Digger’s Handbook

Liesel’s first book, stolen after her brother’s funeral, where she learns to read.

The Shoulder Shrug

Stolen from a Nazi book burning, symbolizing Liesel's rebellion and quest for knowledge.

The Standover Man

A handmade book by Max that tells his story and illustrates his bond with Liesel.

The Whistler

A book stolen from Ilsa Hermann’s library, read by Liesel to calm others during air raids.

The Complete Duden Dictionary and Thesaurus

A gift from Ilsa that enhances Liesel’s language and writing skills.

The Word Shaker

A book written by Max that allegorically explores the power of words and resistance.