Summary and Analysis
Part 6: The Dream Carrier:
The Snowman
Summary
On Christmas Eve, Liesel brings pots and pans filled with snow downstairs to Max. They have a snowball fight and Hans and Rosa join. Then, they build a snowman and it melts, but they all remember the snowman and carry it with them. From this night and through January, Max's health deteriorates. In February, shortly before Liesel's 13th birthday, he collapses and is placed in Liesel's bedroom. Liesel blames herself for his illness.
Analysis
This chapter illustrates Liesel's continued desire to bring the outside world to Max. This time she does so in the form of snow, and everyone in the Hubermann household is able to join in a lighthearted moment of fun. This contrasts starkly with the serious illness that befalls Max later in the chapter. Liesel feels that, in her moment of helping Max, she has hurt him. Hans tells her that she had to do it, which foreshadows something that Hans will do later in the story to help a marching Jewish man and will, ultimately, hurt himself and Max. But it, too, was something he had to do.