The Grave Digger's Handbook 2-80 January 1939, Liesel Meminger is 9 years old.
Liesel Meminger (the book thief), and her brother are traveling with their mother by train to Himmel ("Heaven") Street in the small town of Molching, where Liesel and her brother going to live with foster parents, Rosa Hubermann and her husband Hans Hubermann. Her father was a communist.
Werner (her brother) dies, and Death (the narattor) takes his spirit.
Two days later, Liesel's brother is buried by two gravediggers. Liesel steals a black book from the cemetery ground. The stolen book is called The Grave Digger's Handbook. Liesel is illiterate, but keeps the book anyway.
Death says that Liesel will steal several books and be made two by a hidden Jew.
Liesel begins to call her foster parents "Mama" and "Papa."
Liesel has nightmares about her brother every night and wets the bed. Hans comes in and sits with her.
Liesel keeps The Grave Digger's Handbook under her bed.
After one of Liesel's nightmares, Hans finds her book and agrees to read it to her.
Hans finds that Liesel cannot read any words herself, so he begins teaching her the alphabet using sandpaper and a painter's pencil.
Liesel begins school but is forced into a much younger class of students.
In February Liesel turns ten and is enrolled into the Hitler Youth.
Rosa, who does laundry for wealthier neighbors, takes Liesel on deliveries.
Some of the neighbors include Rudy Steiner, one of six who lives next door to the Hubermanns; Frau Diller, a staunch Aryan cornershop owner; Tommy Muller, a twitchy kid suffering from ear infections; and Pfiffikus, a vulgar man.
Rudy is implied to be infatuated with Liesel.
Hans is revealed to not be a supporter of Hitler.
In September Germany invades Poland, starting World War II.
Liesel is moved up to the same class as Rudy and Tommy, the proper level for her age.
Liesel is teased by Ludwig Schmeikl, so she beats him up and