The Book Thief

Why does Ilsa Hermann accept the verbal assault from Liesel and accepts the stolen book.

the book thief

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Ilsa is actually pretty important in Liesel's life. She lost her own son some twenty years prior and has been lost in a fog of melancholy since. Liesel's stealing of books wakes something inside of her. Rather than be angry, Ilsa is intrigued. She secretly encourages Liesel to read by leaving the library door open. I think that she understood Liesel better than Liesel knew. Liesel was and adolescent full of passion and grit. Ilsa let Liesel vent her frustrations. Liesel was under such preassures combined with the changes of a teenage girl, Ilsa understood.