Post #9

    
Picture from:  http://www.flickr.com/groups/cinematicworld/discuss/72157624743721193/

   
      As I've mentioned in my last post, The Book Thief doesn't start off in Liesel's ordinary world.  It brings World War Two to her, whether she likes it or not.  The story is told by Death's prospective and he does a fine job highlighting Liesel's problems:

"*** A SPECTACULARLY TRAGIC MOMENT ***
                        A train was moving quickly.
                        It was packed with Humans.
          A six-year-old boy died in the third carriage". (Zusak, Markus. The book thief. United States: Random House, 2005. Print)

     Death is referring to Liesel's brother in this quote.  It was one of the beginning events of the book, clearly not part of Liesel's ordinary world. This event was more like the call to adventure, as it's a disruption as opposed to a typical event for Liesel.  And, because Liesel can't control her brother's death or where the train is going, she can't refuse her call to adventure.

     The meeting of the mentor was when Liesel met Hans Hubermann.  She starts out defiant, as she still missed her family, but eventually Hans taught her how to read and they developed a strong friendship.  Hans is a wise man and older than most, fitting the mentor category perfectly.

     As I've also mentioned in my last post, Liesel's family later hides a Jew named Max.  Liesel was pulled aside and warned not to tell anyone about Max by Hans.  I think this is when she truly crosses the threshold, as she heeds Hans' warning and puts herself in danger by doing so.  That action alone shows that she is willingly involving herself in the war, unlike her habit of steeling books.

      Liesel's journey isn't typical.  She is giving less control in it then I think most protagonists are.  However, despite this when she is granted a choice she takes it and does whats better for Max as opposed to herself.  The Book Thief, in my opinion, is a perfect example of straying off the path to something better.