The Sound Of Sirens

In this section of The Book Thief, Liesel's papa bought a radio so that they could hear the air raid before the sirens even started. One morning Papa woke Liesel up to inform her that the sirens had started. "Liesel, wake up. We have to go" Papa said (Zusak 371). Before the family left they went to the basement to tell Max goodbye. It was agreed that Max would stay in the basement while the family went to the Fiedlers' air raid shelter. It was too dangerous for all of them to stay home in the basement, and it was too risky to take Max along with them. "It was Max who convinced them. 'They said it's not deep enough here. I've already put you in enough danger'" (Zusak 372). I think the family felt really bad about not being able to help Max in such a rough situation. "Hans nodded. 'Its a shame we can't take you with us. It's a disgrace.' 'It's how it is,'" Max said (Zusak 372).

The situation is definitely not fair, but like Max said 'it is how it is'. The family would have been in a lot of danger if they had stayed in the basement with Max. If the family would have taken Max along they all would have been at risk for hiding a Jew. I personally think that is a very tough decision to make considering the family really cares about Max. Unfortunately, the family had to do the right thing at the right time, which happened to be an unfair solution.

I think everyone has experienced something in life that they felt was unfair. Life isn't always fair, and unfortunately it wasn't fair for my step-dad either. My step-dad's name is Pepe, he's from Mexico. Pepe has been in my life for twelve years now. He's a very quiet man who stays to himself, but my mom tells my siblings and I stories about his childhood. When he was younger his living conditions were a lot different than ours today. Pepe grew up in a home with dirt floors in a village with little food, and no money. In Mexico where Pepe grew up, education ended after fifth grade. He came to America to find a job considering there weren't any jobs where his home was. Pepe doesn't think it's fair that people like my brother, Marqui, have opportunities all around them yet they refuse to take advantage of them. Pepe's family still reside in Mexico, and they only wish for the opportunities that we have presented to us daily. Like Max's situation it's not fair, but it's life.

Work Cited:

Zusak, Marcus. The Book Thief. NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. Print.

~This is a picture of people in an air raid shelter~