It was a dark and snowy night for Liesel Meminger (the six-year old book thief), as she traveled by train with her mother to Munich. This is where Liesel will be placed with her brother and taken into foster care. Liesel dreamt about Hitler during a train ride. He smiles at Liesel as he speaks at a rally. He greets her in broken German, but she wakes up from a dream before he can reply. Werner is still asleep when his mother wakes up. Death then takes Werner’s spirit. They get out of the train when it stops. Two train guards argue about Werner’s body. Two days later, gravediggers bury Werner’s body. Liesel searches for her brother’s remains, but her mother carries her away. Liesel then steals a book from a cemetery to help her get back on the train.
Liesel is surrendered to the foster-care authorities in Munich. Liesel is taken to Himmel street. Himmel is the German word for heaven. Her foster parents reside in this city. Her foster parents’ names were Rosa Huberman & Hans Hubermann. The women are described as short-tempered and squat. Hans, her husband, is tall and quiet, who also rolls his own cigarettes. Hans finally persuades Liesel to leave the car after she arrives at her house. A crowd forms on the other side of the street, while liesel continues to refuse to get out of her car. Rosa curses the group and tells them that they should be careful. Liesel had only one suitcase, containing clothing, and the Grave Diggers Handbook. Death tells Liesel that she will steal many books. A hidden Jew will make two of them. Liesel arrives at her new house very hungry. Liesel is very hungry when she arrives at her new home. Rosa, a book describes her as loving Liesel but being harsh to her. Rosa shouts at Liesel a lot and even calls her a dog for not taking a hot bath. Hans is kinder to Liesel, though. He is an accordian and house painter.
He shows Liesel how to light a cigar. As time passes, Liesel starts to call her foster parents Mama and Papa. Liesel had nightmares about the brother nearly every night during the first month she lived with her parents. She would wet her bed from nightmares.
