VP of Vocabulary and Predictions

Name: Leah Smith

Date: Monday, November 23 2015
Pages: 139-276
Part One: Tracking big ideas while you read
While youre reading, make some quick notes about the novel. You can use your notes to help you focus
on big ideas that you can make connections to.

What should I look for?

Themes

Characters

From this section of the novel

In my opinion, the theme of this section in the book is that different
A message or lesson that events impact each individual person in a very different way. For
is taught to the reader
example, in this section we meet the loving character of Max, a middlethrough the characters
aged Jewish man who has come to hide in the Hubermanns basement.
and events of the novel. As Liesel gets to know Max better, she begins to understand that Hitler
and the Nazi Party affect Maxs life in a way drastically different from
the way it affects her. For Liesel, the Nazi Party and the war mean less
food and money and attending Band of German Girls meetings.
Whereas, Max is forced to hide in dark empty rooms because of Hitler,
always afraid and not knowing if hell see the next day. This shows the
reader just how easy Liesel had it compared to Max, and how just
because of a difference in religion, their lives were so much different.
Liesel - Obviously Liesel is essential to the story as she is the main
Who are the most
character. Throughout this section of the story we begin to see mature
important characters in
quickly because of all the things she is going through. From having to
this section and why?
hide a Jew in her basement to the ongoing war, life is not easy for
Liesel and she is forced to grow up quicker than she needs to to handle
How is/are the main
everything going on around her.
character(s) changing?
Max - Max begins to become very important to the story as he and
Liesels friendship grows. As life becomes harder, they begin to rely on
each other more and more. Max starts out as guarded and scared of
everyone around him, but by the end of this section, he has opened
himself up to the Hubermanns and we see him as a kind-hearted and
caring man.
Hans - Hans is still important in this section because of his strong bond
with Liesel, but as the story progresses, Liesel is shown all the
problems and hardships he has faced in his life, and begins to respect

him even more than she already does.

Events

What are the major

happenings in this
section of the novel?
Why are they
important?

Rosa - Rosa starts to mean more to Liesel in this section because as she
sees how her mama handles the difficult situations that are coming their
way, Liesel begins to view Rosa in a new light and with more respect.
Ilsa Hermann - The character of Ilsa Hermann also becomes more
important in this section. She is the one who shows Liesel her
enormous collection of books, which only deepens Liesels love for
literature. Frau Hermanns house becomes something like a safe haven
for Liesel, a place where she can go to escape all her problems in the
outside world.
We meet the character of Max, a young Jewish man who is
forced to live in hiding because of the Nazis.
Liesel continues to visit Frau Hermanns library and begins to
get to know her better.
Rudy and Liesel, along with a group of older boys, begin
stealing things like apples and potatoes as a way to cope with
the rationing of food.
Max begins his journey to the Hubermanns house, where he
hopes to find refuge from Hitler.
Max arrived in Molching and was taken into the Hubermanns
home where he lived in the basement.
As the reader, we see parts of Hans past while he was in the war
and when he met Maxs father. As well as Maxs life and how he
got to be where he is.
Liesel and Max bond over their sorrows and losses and start to
form a strong friendship.
Although Liesel has to adjust to her new life, eventually a
routine forms and Max becomes part of the family.

Ilsa Hermann fires Rosa, and Liesel becomes very angry.

Your Goal
Part One: Identifying new and unfamiliar words
While youre reading, write down any words:
(1) Whose meaning might be unfamiliar to your group members
(2) That are unique terms for the sci-fi story (e.g. Buggers)
How many group
Word
What it means

Help your group members to

better understand what theyve
read by helping them to
understand important words
and make predictions.

An example of how to use

members knew the

meaning of this word?

ire

intense anger
synonyms: wrath, fury,
exasperation
a world in miniature
something that is a smaller
version of something much
bigger
synonyms: earth, nature

He could feel the ire deep in h

stomach, rising like a pot of
boiling soup.
He filled the aquarium with
many different fish, making h
own little microcosm of the
ocean.

something of small size

the cute version
synonyms: small, tiny, little

causing no harm or injury

synonyms: harmless

measurement of something
around the middle
something that encircles
synonyms: circumference

The little bungalow looked

diminutive tucked in between
the shadowing sky scrapers.
The conversation was innocuo
and she wasnt identified by
name.
It was an enormous tree, its gi
twice as great as a man could
embrace.

microcosm

diminutive

innocuous

girth

1
-

Part Two: Making Predictions

Make two predictions based on what you have read so far in the story. Remember, a good prediction
should relate to the original short story elements and be logical.

Prediction/ Inference

Evidence from the text that supports this

prediction

I can infer that by the end of the novel, Rudy will

have been killed by one of the many bombs that hit
Molching. As well, I think that Liesel will not die
and that she will have to witness one of her closest
friends being slaughtered by a bomb dropped from
the sky.

I know this will happen because Death says, On

so many counts, taking a boy like Rudy was
robbery-so much life, so much to live for-yet
somehow, Im certain he would have loved to see
the frightening rubble and the swelling of the sky
on the night he passed away. Hed have cried and
turned and smiled if only he could have seen the
book thief on her hands and knees, next to his
decimated body. Hed have been glad to witness
her kissing his dusty, bomb-hit lips. (Zusak 242).
This displays how Rudy has died and how Liesel is
still alive and kneeling beside her dead friend.
I think this will happen because there have been a
few occasions where Liesel has contemplated
telling someone her secret because she just cant

I think that at some point in the story, Liesel will

tell someone about Max or something will happen
and he will be forced to leave. I dont think Liesel

would tell somebody on purpose, I just think that

the pressure of it all will where her down and she
will eventually tell someone that her family is
hiding a Jew in their basement.

take it anymore. For example, the text says,

Theres a Jew in my basement. Theres a Jew in
my basement. Sitting on the floor of the mayors
roomful of books, Liesel Meminger heard those
words. (Zusak 245) and She looked up. She
imagined herself walking over, gently tearing some
fluffy hair to the side, and whispering gin the
womans ear: Theres a Jew in my basement.
(Zusak 246). This shows that, sometimes, Liesel
cant bear the weight of the secret, which makes me
think it will just get worse and soon she will no
longer be able to keep it in.

VP of Vocabulary and Predictions Rubric

Level 4

Reading:
My vocabulary chart
includes relevant and
challenging terms from
the book, and accurate
definitions have been
located.

I have made
3inferences that are:
-Logical
-Sophisticated
-Clearly connected to
the novel.

I have successfully
connected the story to
3 other ideas (text,
world, self) in a
detailed and insightful
way.

Writing:

Level 3

Level 2

Level 1

My vocabulary
chart is
incomplete or
does not have
terms from the
story.

My vocabulary
chart includes
only relevant and
challenging terms
from the story and
all accurate
definitions have
been located.

My vocabulary
chart includes
some relevant
terms from the
story that are
challenging for
the most part. All
definitions have
been located.

My vocabulary
chart includes
some relevant
terms that are
somewhat
challenging.
Some of the
definitions have
been located.

My vocabulary
chart includes few
relevant terms. I
should try to
locate more
challenging terms
and locate all
correct definitions.

Uses inferring
skills with a high
degree of
effectiveness.
(logical and
sophisticated
inferences)

Uses inferring
skills with
considerable
effectiveness.
(logical
inferences)

Uses inferring
skills with some
effectiveness.
(reasonable
inferences)

Uses inferring
skills with limited
effectiveness.
(unreasonable/
illogical
inference)

All of my
connections
expand beyond
the story and
show
sophisticated and
insightful ideas.
Wow, clever
thinking!

Most of my ideas
expand beyond
the story; 3/3
connections show
thoughtful ideas.
Good work!

Some of my ideas
expand beyond
the story; 2/3
connections show
thoughtful ideas,
yet more specific
details or more
explanation is
needed.

Few of my ideas
expand beyond
the story. 1/3
connections are
thoughtful. To
improve I need to
show more
thoughtful ideas
and include more
details and
explanation.

I have not
actually
connected the
story to any
other ideas.

My writing is
extremely clear. I

My writing is clear
for the most part. I

My writing is
somewhat clear.

My writing lacks
clarity for the

There are so
many errors

No inferences
made or
inferences do
not connect to
the original
text.

My writing is clear and

all of my ideas can be
easily understood.

have used proper

spelling, grammar
and punctuation
throughout.

have a few minor

errors in spelling,
grammar and
punctuation. (1-3
mistakes)

Sometimes the
errors interfere
with
comprehension.
(4-6 mistakes)

most part. The

spelling, grammar
and punctuation
errors often
interfere with
comprehension.
(7+)

within my
writing that it
cannot be
understood. I
need to make
my writing
much clearer.