Summaries of Each Part in the Book thief
In the Prologue of The Book Thief, Death introduces himself. Death also gives a little background on himself.
In Part One of The Book Thief, Death introduces Liesel. Death explains Liesel's history and why she is moving in with her foster parents, the Hubermanns. The characters Hans, Rosa, and Rudy are also introduced in Part One. In Part One Liesel steals her first book, starting her future as the Book Thief.
In Part Two of The Book Thief, Death narrates how Liesel steals her second book, from a book-burning event on Hitler's birthday. Hans and Rosa's children, Trudy and Hans Junior, are briefly introduced. Death also informs that Hans isn't a Nazi, unlike his son and most of the German men.
In Part Three of The Book Thief, Death narrates how Liesel and the mayor's wife, who gets her clothes washed and ironed by Rosa, strike up a bond over books. Death also introduces a new character, Max. However, Death doesn't reveal much about him, except for that Max a Jew and is traveling to Han and Rosa's house, which is located, "at the heart of Nazism."
In Part Four of The Book Thief, Death introduces a new character Max, the Jew. Death also shares with us Hans's and Max's history and how they're entwined, which leads into why Max is at the Hubermann's house. Death narrates how Liesel and Max meet, and how their friendship starts with a birthday gift given to Liesel from Max.
In Part Five of The Book Thief, it is learned that Death has a heart. Death narrates how Liesel's and Max's friendship progresses. Liesel officially becomes the Book Thief.
In Part Six of The Book Thief, Death narrates about himself and existence. Max slips into a deep sleep, and the Hubermanns and Liesel fear that he might die. Through the course of Max's deep sleep, Liesel collects different gifts for him, hoping they will help him wake up, along with that she reads to him everyday during his slumber. Towards the end of Part Seven, Max wakes up and starts to recover.
In Part Seven of The Book Thief, Death narrates how the town of Molching is preparing for their first air raid, whenever that might be. Rudy enters four races at a Hitler Youth carnival, which has unforeseen and bad consequences. Towards the end of Part Seven the Jews are paraded through Molching on their way to a concentration camp. Hans Hubermann commits a brave but dangerous act by giving a piece of bread to a starving Jew. This not only effects Hans Hubermann, but it puts Max in danger and causes Max to run away and leave. The Hubermmans wait for the Nazi officials to come and punish Hans, but instead they come for Rudy.
In Part Eight of The Book Thief, Death explains why the Nazi officials came for Rudy. Hans Hubermann is accepted into the NSDAP and sent to war as punishment for his previous act. Alex Steiner, Rudy's father, is also sent to war. However none of them have to fight. Rosa gives Liesel a collection of stories and entries that Max left for her. (You have to read the story in order to get the picture on the side.)
In Part Nine of The Book Thief, Death narrates how Hans Hubermann outsmarts him again. Hans Hubermann returns home from war, due to an injury.
In Part Ten of The Book Thief, Death narrates how the bombing of Himmel Street results in the death of everyone on that street, except for Liesel. Liesel reunites briefly with Max, as he is on his way to a concentration camp. Liesel is relieved that even though Max is captured, he is at least alive. Ilsa Hermann and Liesel renew their friendship over books, and Liesel finishes her book about her life.
In the epilogue of The Book Thief, Death narrates his meeting with Liesel. He also offers a glimpse of Liesel's life after the bombing. He ends the novel by informing us that he is "haunted by humans."