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The Vox Box

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Wrapping it up

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

Chloe and I figure we've dragged this out for long enough, so we might as well end it with a bang. As she said, we hope you'll continue to break down the novel and discuss it with others, and we hope you'll enjoy this last installment of the Vox Box Book Club.

7. Compare and contrast the lives of Max and Liesel. How does Max's life give Liesel purpose? What is the significance of "The Standover Man?"

8. Death says that Liesel is a girl "with a mountain to climb." What is her mountain? When does she reach the summit? What does she discover on her descent?

9. Hans Junior calls his father a coward for not belonging to the Nazi party. How did it take courage to oppose Hitler? How do the Hubermanns demonstrate courage throughout the novel?

10. Discuss Liesel's friendship with Rudy. How does it grow and develop through the novel? Why is it so hard for Liesel to love Rudy? Why does Liesel tell Mr. Steiner that she kissed Rudy's body?

11. How does Zusak use the literary device of foreshadowing to pull the reader into the story?

12. How does Liesel's life represent beauty in the wake of brutality? How does Zusak's writing style reflect this?

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.