Liesels

Moleskin

The recollections of a
German girl in the 1940s
May 27, 1939
Liesel Meminger

Today was a normal day on Himmel Street. I played soccer, swore

at Rudy, and was yelled at by mama. But the best part of the day was
not in the daytime. Late last night, I had a nightmare. It was about my
brother, and how he died. I hate those nightmares. Anyways, I woke
up, screaming, and I had wet the bed. Papa, being the kind, good man
that he was, took me to get cleaned up. He also took off my sheets. As
luck would have it, my stolen book came a-tumbling out, and he
questioned me about it. Then, I was delighted to hear that he would
help me read it. This was the start of something great.

Sept 30, 1939

Liesel Meminger

The rations came today. We were already going hungry here on

Himmel Street, and now the government dictates how much we eat. It
is usually less that what we had had. Anyways, today started like a
normal day: Papa is humorous; Mama is furious; Rudy is Rudy. I am
getting better at seeing and recognizing some of the words, though I
stumble and fumble through the Grave Diggers Handbook. It is a tough
book to read, and a tough subject. But that didnt stop me from
reading it aloud in my class, at the disapproval of Sister Maria. It
resulted in a Watschen, and a good one at that.

Oct 1, 1939
Liesel Meminger

I was debating whether or not I would write this down, because I

dont want anyone to find it. But, then again, what do I care about
what theyll think? It is just a good warning. Anyways, I was at break
time after that class when a boy named Ludwig Schmiekl decided to
start taunting me, and my reading. Soon more joined, and I hated
them. I wanted them to explode. It was actually me that exploded,
however, on Ludwig. I kicked, hit, and otherwise beat him until I started
on Tommy. He really didnt deserve anything, but the way he looked at
me put me over, and I beat on him as well. It resulted in the hardest
Watschen Sister Maria had ever given, and would ever give. I could
barely sit.
Dec 24, 1939
Liesel Meminger

It is Christmas, and we had just left the service. This church is

boring after 2 hours of listening to a priest talk the whole time.
Anyways, after the service, we headed back to 33 Himmel Street, and
there was a surprise waiting for me. I figured that I wouldnt get
anything for Christmas, save a bit more food, but what I got was so
much better. 2 brand new books, Faust the Dog and The Lighthouse,
from Papa and his cigarettes. I couldnt thank him enough.
Jan 17, 1940
Liesel Meminger

We were writing letters in school today. We are supposed to write

to a friend, but I am writing to my real mama. Papa says I should send
it to the foster care lady who brought me here. Her name is Frau
Heinrich. I think that papa doesnt think the letter will reach her, but I
do. Or at least I want to. Boy, though, did it take me a long time to
come up with a decent, send-able draft, but I did it, and in it, I told her
everything she needed to know about Molching and life on Himmel
Street. Later that night, though, I heard my new mama talking to papa,
but not yelling. I dont think she believes the letter will make it, either.

Apr 20, 1940

Liesel Meminger

The bonfire burned bright, set against the black night sky. It was
the Fhrers birthday, and the Hitler youth had gathered to celebrate.
Some higher-up guy came and gave us a lecture on the Jews and the
Communists. After a while, we were dismissed, and could mingle from
then on. However, I heard something, someone, call my name. Ludwig,
the jerk kid I beat up on the playground. Good times. This time around,
though, he had been trampled and needed help. I helped him get out
of the crowd, and you know what? He actually apologized for being
mean. I did, too.

Apr 21, 1940

Liesel Meminger

I stole another book. Dont think of me bad; I am not compulsive

or anything like that. But books are so good. If I can take them, I will.
This one was in the burning last night, and it survived. I moved
stealthily towards it, and put it in my shirt. I thought one of the cleanup
men saw me, but he was just yelling at his apprentice. I was able to get
away, unnoticed. Or so I thought. I was, in actuality, being watched the
whole time. But I got away.

May 3, 1940
Liesel Meminger

I was going to the Mayors house. Just deliver the washing, I told
myself. It worked, until I got to the Mayors house. His wife saw it all.
She saw me take the book. My heart pounded, I sweated, I even felt a
little faint. I knocked, asked for the washing, and the mayors wife told
me to wait. I waited. Then, she offered for me to come in. I thought I
was done for. However, the mayors wife actually took me into their
library. And what a library it was! It had splendid cases filled with books
from wall to wall. I read and read and read.

Aug 23, 1940

Liesel Meminger

After a sort of interview with Fritz Hammer, Rudy and I were now
full-time thieves. We were extremely hungry, and I needed food, so we
did the only thing we could do: steal. On our first heist, we went to an
apple orchard. We were given these guidelines: One. Dont get caught
on the fence. You get caught on the fence, you get left behind. Two.
One in the tree, one below. Someone has to collect. Three. If you see
someone coming, you call out loud enough to wake the dead and we
all run. We then began to climb the fence. I needed a little talking-in
to, but I got over. In the end, we ate more apples than I could show on
one hand in a half hour. I puked hard.

Oct 18, 1940

Liesel Meminger

Should I have stopped us, or was it better this way? Earlier today,
Rudys biggest idea yet unfolded. It was simple: Otto Sturm would bike
around the corner. The road would be made slick. Otto falls. We get his
basket of food. The plan seemed simple enough, and it worked
flawlessly when we went to execute it. We actually thought we had
really hurt Otto for a moment, but he was up soon. So, we quickly
grabbed the basket and booked it out of there. Inside was nothing
short of a cornucopia. Bread, eggs, ham, it was a lot to take in. But we
were all too happy to do so.