Sophie Geoffrey Emily Nico Ben
Nelisse Rush Watson Liersch Schnetzer
AS AS AS AS AS
Liesel Hans Rosa Rudy Max
Meminger Hubermann Hubermann Steiner Vandenburg
Author: Markus Zusak Director: Brian Percival
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(MOVIE) +Characters In Book vs. Characters In Movie+ (BOOK)
~------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liesel Meminger
~ Liesel is caught reading in Ilse's library. The ~ Liesel reads as she pleases in Ilse's
Mayor is angered and sends Liesel home. library. The Mayor is too busy to notice.
This change is significant, because I feel the Mayor's knowledge of Liesel in his library
could have made him believe that she and her family did not support Hitler. He could of also thought that his wife was trying to use Liesel as a replacement for her dead son.
~ Rosa asks Liesel if she knows why the Mayor ~ Liesel is angered when Ilse cancels
has cancelled her laundry service. Liesel Rosa's laundry service to save
remembers the incident but doesn't say why. her husband money.
This significant change caused Liesel to feel that she lost Rosa a customer. In the
book, Liesel was angered at Ilse for being rich and wanted revenge.
~ Max gave Liesel a blank book as a gift on ~ Max was extremely ill after the snow-
Christmas. He asked her to write her own ball fight. Liesel hadn't received Max's
story. He grew ill the following day. painted over Mein Kempf with his story.
This difference changed a important part of the story. In the novel, Liesel was to receive Max's story, The Word Shaker, after he left the house. This book would show her Max's feelings and thoughts. She would also learn more about the power of words. In the film, Max does not write this story. Instead, he takes Ilse's place in giving Liesel a
blank book that would become The Book Thief.
~ Liesel read to Max hoping that her words would ~ Liesel broke into the Mayor's
cure him. When she finished the book, she decided house seeking revenge after Ilse
to get another one in Ilse's library. Her mission was cancelled Rosa's laundry service.
compromised when the Mayor heard a noise and No one came in as she stole a book,
went into the library. Liesel quickly hid behind a and she escaped through the.
curtain and prayed she wouldn't be caught. window.
This changed why Liesel was stealing books from the library. In the film it was because Liesel believed reading to Max would cure him. In the novel, Liesel not only
did it for revenge but because she felt that she was stealing them back from Hitler.
~ When Liesel climbed out of the window ~ Liesel went into the house to steal
with her stolen book, Rudy caught her. He a book, while Rudy kept watch. They
asked what she was doing and was hurt both made a run for it but Rudy had to
because he wasn't let in on the robbery. go back because he had forgotten Liesel's
shoes. It was the beginning of their
loyalty and friendship.
Book thievery was what brought Rudy and Liesel together. They grew loyal to each
other and depended on one another. It also changed how close they came to be in the
novel. When the book didn't include Rudy in any robberies, he felt that Liesel was
keeping secrets from him. This caused him to find out her biggest secret later on.
~ France caught Liesel with a Max's book ~ France and his friends found Liesel
and demanded that he tell her what it was and Rudy near the bridge. He grabbed
about.They fought over it, and it accidentally Liesel's book, The Whistler, and mocked
fell over the bridge and into the river. France Liesel for reading. France purposely
then threatened to report them to the authorities. threw the book into the river after.
The book that was thrown into the river in the novel, was a book Liesel had stolen to read to Max. In the film, it was the blank book Max had given Liesel. This led to Rudy
finding out who Max was. If it had been The Whistler, the Hubermann's secret
would have been kept long after Max safely escaped the basement. This change put
in danger not only Max's life but Liesel and the Hubermann's lives.
~ After Hans ccidentally endangered his ~ Liesel was not present when Max left.
family, Max decided it was time to leave. She came home to find an empty basement
Liesel begged him not to go. and a hole in her heart.
When Max left without saying goodbye in the novel, Liesel was left with worry. She
feared something horrible would happen to him as he fled. In the film, Max said his
goodbye and Liesel was left with more closure than she would have in the book.
~ Liesel never saw Max again until the end ~ Liesel saw Max again when she
of the book. When another Death March occurred found him walking with the prisoner
through Himmel Street, she tried to find Max. Jews. They caught up as fast as they
Liesel was pushed many times by a Nazi officer. could but Liesel was thrown aside by
At one point she was thrown onto the street but a Nazi officer. She didn't give up and
never found Max walking to the concentration was then whipped.
camp.
In the film, Liesel doesn't see Max until after the tragedy. This would have made her worry grow into despair. When Liesel saw Max walking with the prisoner Jews, it was the first time she had seen him after he had left without a goodbye. She was so glad to
see him that she wouldn't listen to the Nazi officer.
~ After the bombs fell, Liesel was found under ~ After the bombs dropped, Liesel
the rubble of her house holding Hans' put aside The Book Thief. She didn't
accordion. As she looked for her parents, Liesel want it anymore. When she found
came across The Book Thief. She picked it up her parents and later dead Rudy, she
and later passed out after Rudy died. was full of anguish but stayed awake.
This last difference changed the ending of the novel. In the novel, Death picked up Liesel's book because he felt it was important. When Liesel grew older and died, he was to present it to her as a gift. The film showed Liesel's house, when she was older, and on a desk was The Book Thief. Having Liesel witness Rudy's death, in the film,
caused her to be overwhelmed and to pass out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(MOVIE) Rudy Steiner (BOOK)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Rudy smudged himself with coal and ~ Rudy completely covered himself
went to the town's track field. He reenacted in coal and reenacted Jeese Owens race.
Jesse Owens race but was caught by a The whole town found out and a group
man who grabbed him by the ear and took of people gathered to watch.
him to his father.
When Rudy reenacted Olympic athlete Jesse Owen's race, everyone in town believed he was crazy. It was bad to want to be black in Germany. Especially while Hitler was in power. This changed the amount of people that found out about the race. The novel showed that Rudy was completely clueless as to why it was wrong to be black. This showed that Rudy wasn't aware of what was happening in Germany. The film didn't
really stress this enough.
~ Rudy caught Liesel stealing from the ~ Rudy helped Liesel steal a book
Mayor's house and followed Liesel to the from Ilse's library believing it was only for
bridge. There he snatched a book she was Liesel. They escaped without being caught
holding and read a name written on the and later Rudy jumped into the river to
inside. He asked who Max was and Liesel told retrieve Liesel's book.
him that she and her family were hiding a Jew.
This was the biggest change in Rudy's character. In the novel, he was unaware of what the Hubermann's were doing until Liesel explained everything. This of coarse was after Max had already left the house. The film wanted to add more suspense and drama to the story, so they allowed Liesel to tell Rudy the secret. This put Liesel, Max,
and her family in grave danger. Liesel had to rely on Rudy to not tell anyone. The film also did not develop a strong enough trust between them so I believed that would
have been a problem in the story.
~ Rudy's father in conscripted into ~ Rudy's parents deny the Nazi's offers
the army. Rudy is then told he will be to put Rudy in the Elite Forces. Rudy's dad
in the Elite Forces when he is older. is later taken away and Rudy is to join the
forces in the summer.
The film didn't give enough information on why Rudy's father was leaving. They only showed that he was a Nazi member and was to leave for the war. The novel explained in more detail why his father was sent away. Rudy was also supposed to join the Elite Forces and mock Hitler ,showing that he did not support him now that he was aware of
what was happening, but the film changed when Rudy would join.
~ Rudy doesn't understand why ~ Rudy's attitude changed after his
his father left and grows to miss him. father left. He became angry and
Liesel later found him running away. She decided that stealing with Liesel would make
convinced him to stay when she told him him feel better. He acceped his fate
that she hated Hitler as well. did not not try to run away.
The film changes Rudy and Liesel's relationship. Like before they don't steal books together but this part of the story is when Liesel is supposed to stay by Rudy's side. The novel has them stealing from farms and joining robbers. This developed loyalty and a
dynamic friendship. The film didn't allow this to happen.
~ Rudy is dying, when Liesel finds him. He ~ Rudy is already gone when Liesel
tries to tell her that he loves her but before finds him after the bombing. She
he can, he stops mid way and dies in her arms. passes out after she sees him.
Rudy dying in Liesel's arms was probably the worst attempt, by the film, to make people cry. The novel perfectly depicted the horrors of the Holocaust without having to
be over dramatic. I believe this change was unnecessary to the ending.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(MOVIE) Hans Hubermann (BOOK)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Hans Hubermann found Liesel standing ~ After Liesel heard the Mayor give a
near the once burning pile of books and speech about death to Jews and
beckoned her to follow him home. When he Communists, she couldn't help but
realized Liesel was caring a stolen book in her believe that her parents were taken away
pocket, he hid it in his coat and told her they because of this. When Hans confirmed
would read it later. Liesel then asked Hans if her suspicions, Liesel immediately
her mother and father were Communists. Hans proclaimed her hate for Hitler. Hans
replied that it was true and Liesel told him that was speechless but acted quick. He
she hated Hitler. Hans stopped walking and slapped Liesel across the face and told
turned to Liesel. He looked her in the eyes and her to never say it again. Liesel was
toldher never to say that in public. He gave her completely speechless but Hans
permission to say it in the house but he explained scolded her and sternly warned her
that everyone she loved would be taken away if that they would take him and Rosa
anyone ever heard her say that. away if she proclaimed her hate for Hitler.
Hans slapping Liesel was the most painful thing he ever had to do. He loved and cared for her so much that he had to make Liesel understand how dangerous her words were. Changing this could have not gotten Liesel to completely understand the seriousness of the situation. It was also the most unexpected thing out of Hans. The movie needed to show that Hans was loving but did not tolerate endangering his loved ones.
~ Nazi officers began to take Jews out ~ When the first march passed through
of their homes, as the Holocaust escalated. Himmel Street, residents gathered to
A friend of Hans, who owned a store, was found watch prisoner Jews being taken to
to have false papers. People watched as he was the nearby concentration camp. No
brutally thrown into a car. Hans couldn't stand and one showed sympathy, except for
watch, so he pleaded with the Nazi's telling them Hans Hubermann. He walked up to
that the man they were taking was innocent. This a Jewish man and offered him a
angered the officers, and they immediately asked for piece of bread. The Jewish man
his name. Hans was shocked but did not give up. He did not take the bread but was
pleaded again but this time he was violently thrown speechless at Han's sign of
onto the street where he hit his head. A couple of compassion. A Nazi officer didn't
days after, Hans Hubermann was sent to war. like this and whipped Hans and the Jew.
Hans Hubermann had always been a caring and kind man. In the novel, his brave act of offering a Jewish prisoner bread showed that he cared for anyone regardless of who
they were. The film had some similarities but I believe Hans helping someone in a
Death March was more effective in showing Hans' true colors.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(MOVIE) Rosa Hubermann (BOOK)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Rosa accepted Max into her home ~ When Max Vandenburg appeared on the
and immediately took action. When he was Hubermann's front door, Rosa did not
put into bed, Rosa had a serious talk with hesitate to help. She led Max upstairs
Hans. She worried that someone would and put him to bed. After, she took Liesel
find out and suggested they turn him into aside and sternly told her that she couldn't
the authorities. Hans scolded Rosa and told her tell anyone what they are doing. Rosa
that they couldn't back down after their promise. continued on as if nothing happened.
This difference slightly changed Rosa's character, In the novel, she always ruled with an iron fist and wasn't afraid to say what she wanted. When Max arrived, Rosa immediately cared for him and grew to be compassionate. She never was hesitant in helping Max. The film showed that Rosa was scared and did not know what to do. She still cared for Max but her first reaction to what was happening showed that she fell
apart in that instant.
~ Rosa came to Liesel's school pretending ~ Rosa came to Liesel's school and
to be angered with her. She took her aside and took her aside pretending to be
cried tears of joy, as she told Liesel that Max had angered with her. She explained that
woken up and was going to live. They hugged and Max was awake. They both smiled
Rosa told Liesel that she loved her. and Rosa sent her back inside.
This small difference didn't change much. Rosa always loved Liesel but she didn't tell her it. Instead, Rosa showed that she cared for Liesel by feeding her, taking care of her, etc. When the film showed Rosa telling Liesel that she loved her, it only surprised Liesel. The novel did not make Rosa the type of person to tell anyone that she loved
them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(MOVIE) Max Vandenburg (BOOK)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Max's Nazi friend arrived at their ~ Max's friend comes for him and
house to escort him to safety. He told them his father, mother, and others family
that they don't have much time and that he could members tell him to go with him. He
only take one person. Max's mother immediately protests but is given a suitcase with
volunteered Max. He protested but was given a some supplies to live off of and a
passport and said goodbye to his mother. passport. Max says goodbye to his famiy.
This significant change altered who Max was leaving. In the novel, Max was always fighting himself for leaving his family and wanting to live, In the movie, Max only left his mother. He was still haunted by his actions but the novel had a larger burden on his
shoulders. He also had supplies to survive off of.
~ Max travels straight to the Hubermann's ~ Max is taken to a secret hide out where
after he leaves his home. he barely survives for weeks. He constantly
blamed himself for wanting to live.
Max's shelter before the Hubermann's, in the novel gave him more time to contemplate
what he had done. The film cut this part out leaving the viewers to wonder
what Max went through before he arrived and what his feeling and thoughts were.
~ A couple days after Max arrives at the
~ Max doesn't have these dreams. Hubermann's, Liesel asks Max what he dreams
about. He tells her he boxes Hitler in his dreams.
The dreams that Max had in the film gave us an inside to what Max was feeling and thinking. The film left out a lot of background information on Max. We didn't really get
to know him. The film focused more on Liesel story than on anyone else's.
~ Max paints over Hitler's book and ~ Max uses the painted pages of Hitler's
gives it to Liesel, He tells her to write her book to write his own story. He leaves before
own story. he can give it to Liesel. Instead, he gives it to
Rosa who passes it on to Liesel.
The story Max wrote in the novel was very important. It showed Liesel that words held power. Max used this story to explain what Hitler's secret weapon was. Changing this was not beneficial to the story. This meant the film had to find another way to show the viewers the theme of The Book Thief. The film also kept Ilse from giving Liesel a blank book to write her own story. Their friendship didn't exist after Rosa's laundry
service in the film.
~ Max leaves the basement and goes ~ Max leaves the basement and
outside, while all the residents of Himmel looks out the window, while everyone
Street are hiding in a bomb shelter. Max looks is hiding in the bomb shelter.
at the stars and breathes in the fresh air.
These two events were very similar but I believe the film showed Max's yearning for freedom more than the book did. The novel showed that Max was hesitant to leave the house but the film showed that Max wasn't as afraid as he was when he first arrived.
~ Max decides it's time to leave the basement. ~ Max doesn't want to endanger
He thanks everyone for sheltering him but Liesel and the Hubermann's any-
explains that he can't endanger anyone anymore. more and decides it it time to
Liesel has the hardest time saying goodbye and leave. When Liesel arrives home after
she watches as Max walks out the door and down school, Max is already gone.
Himmel Street.
The film gave Liesel and Max more closure. The novel, on the other hand, made Liesel become extremely worried for Max's safety. This led to her believing she would find him
in the Death Marches going through town.
~ Max is not captured after he leaves the ~ Liesel and Max meet again, when
Hubermann's house. He survives through the she finds him being marched to the
Holocaust until the day he comes looking for nearby concentration camp. Max survives
Liesel, and later comes looking for Liesel.
The film not having Max be captured by the Nazi's didn't worry Liesel as much as when he was captured in the book. The novel caused another issue in the story, Would Max survive? This was to be a surprise in the end when Max was reunited with Liesel
again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Similarities of the Film and Novel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Liesel travels to Munich, germany to live with Hans and Rosa Hubermann.
~ She steals her first book at her brother's funeral.
~ Liesel is made fun of in school for not knowing how to read or write.
~ Rudy becomes Liesel's friend.
~ Hans agrees to teach Liesel how to read.
~ Liesel listens to the mayor call for Death to Communists and Jews at the town book burning. She realizes that Hitler is cruel.
~ Liesel steals another book.
~ She helps her mother with the laundry and meets Ilse Hermann. They become friends when Ilse lets Liesel read in her library.
~ Liesel stops going to the Mayor's house, when they cut Rosa's service.
~ Max Vandenburg asks for shelter at the Hubermann's house.
~ Liesel and Max grow to be best friends.
~ Max grows very sick and falls into a deep sleep.
~ Liesel steals books from Ilse's library to read to Max.
~ Rudy jumps into the river to retrieve Liesel's book, after it is thrown in by France.
~ Hans Hubermann offers bread to a Jew and is whipped.
~ Rudy's dad is sent to war.
~ Max Vandenberg leaves the basement because he doesn't want to endanger anyone anymore.
~ Hans Hubermann leaves to war.
~ Liesel, Rudy, and Rosa hide in the bomb shelter.
~ Hans returns after being hurt in the war.
~ Liesel is writing her story The Book Thief, in the basement, when the bombs fall.
~` Everyone dies except for Liesel.
~ She is offered a job by Rudy's father.
~ Max and Liesel are reunited.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(CUT) (ADDED)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ The Hubermann's children do not exist ~ Mayor catches Liesel in the library
and they do not visit. with Ilse.
~ Hans Jr. calling his father a coward for ~ France comes up to Liesel, at the book
not joining the Nazi's He also gets angry burning honoring Adolf on his birthday, and
at Hans for not making Liesel read Hitler;s tells her to throw a book in the fire.
book instead of the ones she likes.
~ Frau Heinrich assures Liesel that her
~ Death collecting and describing the mother loves her and is only leaving her
souls at Mauthausen Concentration Camp. because she does;t want to endanger her.
~ Liesel collecting objects she finds special ~ Death walks down Himmel Street before
'to give to Max for Christmas. She believes England makes a mistake and drops
they will wake him up along with her words. bombs on Himmel Street.
~ Viktor is not trampled in the book burning.
~ Rudy and Liesel work together to steal
books for Ilse's library and fruit from nearby
farms.
~ Death narrating The Book Thief.
~ Max's background story and his feelings
and thoughts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(SOUNDTRACK)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
01 - One Small Fact - John Williams
02 - The Journey To Himmel Street - John Williams
03 - New Parents And A New Home - John Williams
04 - Ilsa's Library - John Williams
05 - The Snow Fight - John Williams
06 - Learning To Read - John Williams
07 - Book Burning - John Williams)
08 - I Hate Hitler - John Williams)
09 - Max And Liesel - John Williams
10 - The Train Station - John Williams
11 - Revealing The Secret - John Williams
12 - Foot Race - John Williams
13 - The Visitor At Himmel Street - John Williams
14 - Learning To Write - John Williams
15 - The Departure Of Max - John Williams
16 - Jellyfish - John Williams
17 - Rescuing The Book - John Williams
18 - Writing To Mama - John Williams
19 - Max Lives - John Williams
20 - Rudy Is Taken - John Williams
21 - Finale - John Williams
22 - The Book Thief - John Williams
The Book Thief did not have hip hop artists or rappers make their soundtrack because it was obvious this tale needed something amazing. It was beautiful that throughout the whole story one composer played the piano. In moments that were sad, he played mellow
pieces, in moments that were suspenseful, he played haunting pieces. I found this
soundtrack peaceful and very beautiful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEXT TO TEXT CONNECTION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many times, when I finish a book, I notice there are movie adaptions or movies somewhat based on them. The Harry Potter series was as set of books I read and adored immensely. I knew there were movies, but I was afraid they would destroy J. K Rowling's beautiful work. I finally gathered up the courage to watch said movies and I was surprised. They were amazing! Never once had I seen a movie based on a book that was so close to everything from the novel. These movies remind me of The Book Thief. After I finished the novel, I was spectacle to watch the film. In the end, the Book Thief, directed by Brian Percival, was a beautiful movie. They did have some small unnecessary changes but overall it was an outstanding movie. These two films are #1 and #2 on my "Best Films of All Time" list. I recommend The Book Thief to anyone who wants to cry (Rudy's death) and laugh (Liesel and Max making fun of Hitler).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This ELA Summer Book Blog was beneficial in many ways. I learned how to create and maintain a blog, improved my use of the internet, discovered new organizing ideas and tips, and learned how to analyze a novel in depth. At times I had to drag myself to my laptop in order to meet Mrs. Roland's criteria, but once I started a post, it became a fun exercise. Reading The Book Thief and focusing more on character development, traits, themes, the plot, comparing it to the film, etc... made me realize how much work an author puts into their story. I'm glad I chose to apply for this class and complete this assignment, because it gave me a feel of what 9th Grade Honors ELA will have in store for me.
02 - The Journey To Himmel Street - John Williams
03 - New Parents And A New Home - John Williams
04 - Ilsa's Library - John Williams
05 - The Snow Fight - John Williams
06 - Learning To Read - John Williams
07 - Book Burning - John Williams)
08 - I Hate Hitler - John Williams)
09 - Max And Liesel - John Williams
10 - The Train Station - John Williams
11 - Revealing The Secret - John Williams
12 - Foot Race - John Williams
13 - The Visitor At Himmel Street - John Williams
14 - Learning To Write - John Williams
15 - The Departure Of Max - John Williams
16 - Jellyfish - John Williams
17 - Rescuing The Book - John Williams
18 - Writing To Mama - John Williams
19 - Max Lives - John Williams
20 - Rudy Is Taken - John Williams
21 - Finale - John Williams
22 - The Book Thief - John Williams
The Book Thief did not have hip hop artists or rappers make their soundtrack because it was obvious this tale needed something amazing. It was beautiful that throughout the whole story one composer played the piano. In moments that were sad, he played mellow
pieces, in moments that were suspenseful, he played haunting pieces. I found this
soundtrack peaceful and very beautiful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEXT TO TEXT CONNECTION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many times, when I finish a book, I notice there are movie adaptions or movies somewhat based on them. The Harry Potter series was as set of books I read and adored immensely. I knew there were movies, but I was afraid they would destroy J. K Rowling's beautiful work. I finally gathered up the courage to watch said movies and I was surprised. They were amazing! Never once had I seen a movie based on a book that was so close to everything from the novel. These movies remind me of The Book Thief. After I finished the novel, I was spectacle to watch the film. In the end, the Book Thief, directed by Brian Percival, was a beautiful movie. They did have some small unnecessary changes but overall it was an outstanding movie. These two films are #1 and #2 on my "Best Films of All Time" list. I recommend The Book Thief to anyone who wants to cry (Rudy's death) and laugh (Liesel and Max making fun of Hitler).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This ELA Summer Book Blog was beneficial in many ways. I learned how to create and maintain a blog, improved my use of the internet, discovered new organizing ideas and tips, and learned how to analyze a novel in depth. At times I had to drag myself to my laptop in order to meet Mrs. Roland's criteria, but once I started a post, it became a fun exercise. Reading The Book Thief and focusing more on character development, traits, themes, the plot, comparing it to the film, etc... made me realize how much work an author puts into their story. I'm glad I chose to apply for this class and complete this assignment, because it gave me a feel of what 9th Grade Honors ELA will have in store for me.