<P> Liesel's little brother who dies on the train ride to Rosa and Hans Hubermann's home . He was laid next to the tracks in a town that Liesel could not name . In that incident, Liesel steals her very first book, "The Grave Digger's Handbook". </P> <P> Liesel's mother is only mentioned in the story a few times . Liesel's father was taken away by the Nazi's prior to the novel starting because he was a Communist, and the reasons her mother - Paula Meminger - was taking both her children to foster care was to save them from Nazi persecution . Liesel's mother met the same fate as her father, but Liesel eventually realizes her mother gave her away to protect her . </P> <P> The book is introduced by the character / narrator Death, which underlines that mortality is very present in the lives of each character . Throughout the novel, the deaths of prominent characters reaffirm the presence of mortality . Because the novel takes place during World War II, death and genocide are nearly omnipresent in the novel . </P> <P> Death is presented in a manner that is less distant and threatening . Because Death narrates and explains the reasons behind each character's destruction, as well as explains how he feels that he must take the life of each character, death is given a sense of care rather than fear . At one point, Death states "even death has a heart," which reaffirms that there is a care present in the concept of death and dying . </P>

Who is telling the story in the book thief