These prompts can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before or after reading the novel.

Personal Response Prompt

Keeping secrets, especially from family and friends, can be particularly difficult and potentially damaging to our loved ones. Imagine you must keep an important secret from your friends. What effects could this have on you and your relationships? Is it bad to keep secrets? Are there any times in which keeping a secret could be the right thing to do?

Teaching Suggestion: Encourage students to think creatively about their answers and incorporate examples. Many might say that keeping secrets is never a good thing, but encourage students to think about conflicts in history or scenarios regarding security or personal safety. Then connect the resulting discussion to the situation with Liesel and Max. Invite additional or revised responses.

Post-Reading Analysis

The Narrator uses first-person narration to tell the story of The Book Thief. Examine the effectiveness of his narration style, as well as his use of foreshadowing. Do you think first-person narration was an effective tool for this particular story? Why or why not?

Teaching Suggestion: Encourage students to take a step back from the story itself and reflect on the delivery of information, as well as the style of storytelling, from the Narrator.