During Kristallnacht , Max Vandenburg and his mother , who are Jewish , are told by a friend that only one of them can escape , and Max 's mother forces him to go . Max 's father had saved Hans ' life in World War I , and hence he goes to the Hubermanns ' house , where Rosa and Hans give him shelter . Max initially stays in Liesel 's room while recovering from his trip , and they begin to become friends over their mutual hatred of Hitler . World War II begins , initially making most of the children in Liesel 's neighborhood very happy . Max is moved to the basement so that he can move around more , but it is cold and he becomes dangerously ill . Liesel helps him recover by reading to him at every spare moment books " borrowed " from the mayor 's library
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht
The Book Thief (film)