It seems like Liesel Mueller is finally getting used to her new life. Although not great at school, she is improving with the help of her foster father. She plays soccer with all the other neighborhood kids. Most importantly, she has met her best friend, Rudy Steiner. The narrator says that "she loved and hated her best friend, Rudy Steiner, which was perfectly normal" (85). They walk to school together everyday, and they get closer and closer every time. Rudy keeps wanting to kiss Liesel, but Liesel thinks this is the most ridiculous idea in the world.
She is also used to her foster parents. It says in the novel "She loved her Papa, Hans Hubberman, and even her foster mother, despite the abuses and verbal assaults" (85). She has different bonds with each foster parent. Liesel is closed to Hans, most likely because he is the kindest to her. He comes into her room every time she has a nightmare, and is even helping her learn to read even though he himself is not very good. Liesel's foster mother loves Liesel too, but has a strange way of showing it. Although Rosa calls Liesel names, Rosa loves Liesel in a way that is attempting to teach Liesel to be strong. Rosa is the type of person who believes that punishment is the best way for someone to learn. Despite their different ways of loving, both Hans and Rosa love Liesel.
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While Rosa has reasons for her parenting, I don't really agree with it. I know she wants her to grow up strong, what parent doesn't, abusing her could have the opposite effect. Maybe over time, all the abuse and insults will break her down until she snaps. There's a very fine line Rosa is walking.
I hope that Rudy is a boy...but good for Liesel for making friends and getting out into the community. It is starting to seem that she is doing well, even with her foster parents; Hans is sort of being the mother where Rosa is sort of being the father in their relationships with Liesel.
The relationship between Rudy and Liesel is a common type of relationship between young girls. "she loved and hated and hated her best friend". I feel that the friends you feel you hate as a young girl are usually the bad influences. I hope Liesel Mueller doesn't get caught up because of her friend Rudy Steiner.
Liesel sounds like an interesting character, but also a little bit mixed up. Nobody should hate and love their best friend, though there may be some playful arguments, people really shouldn't have any animosity towards their best friends whatsoever. I also agree that Rosa's parenting may be a little skewed, and doesn't cross that fine line.
I agree that Liesel is really starting to adapt to her new life. I really think that this has a lot to do with her foster father Hans. He really has been a huge part of her life. Hans is always taking care of her and comforting her when she is having her ritual night mares. Rosa on the other hand, is really not a great mother figure to Liesel. I bet it is hard for Liesel because she loved her biological mother so much and now her foster mother is abusing her. I like when you say Rosa loves Liesel in an attempt to teach her to be strong. That is a really good observation and i agree with that completely.
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