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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The Vox Box

The Heavyweight Champion of the School-Yard

A sign of definite intelligence - The Vox Book Club (The Spokesman-Review)
A sign of definite intelligence - The Vox Book Club (The Spokesman-Review)

The last section of Part 1 of The Book Thief...here we go.

  • Death gives us an overview of the past year: (as follows)

"***SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 1939***
1. World War I begins.
2. Liesel Meminger becomes heavyweight champion."

How would YOU sum up 2008? What events would make it on the list in your life?

  • Later on, our narrator gives his opinion on man's common view of 'Death'. (He "likes the scythe, it amuses [him].") How does Death's temporary step out of the narrating role shape our view of him? What does it add to the story?
  • We also find out the identities of two of our main characters; Rudy - "the crazy one who painted himself black and defeated the world," and Liesel - "the book thief without the words."  How do you think their identity will affect their lives in the future? Does this seem somewhat ironic, seeing that these life identities were given by Death?


In 2006, then-editor Steve Smith of The Spokesman-Review had the idea of starting a publication for an often forgotten audience: teenagers. The Vox Box was a continuation of the Vox, an all-student staffed newspaper published by The Spokesman-Review. High school student journalists who staffed the Vox made all content decisions as they learn about the trade of journalism. This blog's mission was to give students an opportunity to publish their voices. The Vox Box and the Vox wrapped up in June 2009, but you can follow former staffers' new blog at http://voxxiez.blogspot.com.